How a Scandal Involving a Trump Protégé Could Hurt the Former President in North Carolina

How a Scandal Involving a Trump Protégé Could Hurt the Former President in North Carolina

 Donald Trump faces potential fallout from his own political influence in North Carolina.

In a key swing state where the presidential race was already fiercely competitive, the campaign took a dramatic turn following a CNN investigation into a scandal involving Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson. The report revealed that Robinson, a staunch Trump ally and controversial figure even within the MAGA movement, had posted disturbing comments on a pornography website over a decade ago, including referring to himself as a “black NAZI!” and expressing support for slavery. Many of his remarks were also sexually explicit, as reported by CNN’s KFile.

Robinson, who is North Carolina’s lieutenant governor, denied making the comments, claiming they predated his political career. Nevertheless, his close association with Trump, who once praised him as “Martin Luther King on steroids,” has shaken up the presidential race. Trump shared the stage with Robinson at a recent rally, underscoring their connection.

Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign quickly seized on the scandal, amplifying its potential national impact. They linked Trump with Robinson, portraying both as immoral, extreme, and unfit for leadership. Harris’ team circulated images of the two together on social media, emphasizing Trump’s endorsement of Robinson with his signature thumbs-up emoji.

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The key question now is whether Robinson’s scandal will damage Trump’s chances in North Carolina, a crucial battleground state. While Trump’s supporters are known for their loyalty, there’s no guarantee that a negative response to Robinson will translate into lost votes for the former president. Democrats have long targeted North Carolina as a state they could flip, but it has remained reliably Republican. However, any dip in GOP voter turnout could be pivotal in a race that’s extremely close. A loss in North Carolina could create an alternative path to the White House for Harris, especially if she faces challenges in traditionally Democratic strongholds like Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, or Michigan.

It would be a historical twist if Trump’s political fortunes were damaged by a candidate like Robinson, whose controversial persona flourished in the political environment Trump helped create.

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This scandal is also indicative of the broader dynamics within the Trump-era Republican Party. Robinson is one of many unconventional and polarizing candidates who rose to prominence by aligning themselves with Trump, often echoing his extreme rhetoric or endorsing his baseless claims of electoral fraud. These candidates, according to many top Republicans, have cost the party significant ground in recent House, Senate, and gubernatorial races by alienating mainstream voters.

Before the scandal broke, Robinson was already trailing North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein, the Democratic candidate for governor, by a wide margin. Now, with Robinson’s controversies dominating the headlines, North Carolina has become even more critical in the presidential race. Harris’ senior adviser David Plouffe summed it up with a simple post on X (formerly Twitter): “16 key electoral votes.”

Democrats see this as their best opportunity to win North Carolina since Barack Obama carried the state in 2008. With a Democratic governor already in office and Stein well-positioned to succeed him, the party is pushing hard to claim victory in the state.

Trump’s backing of Robinson goes beyond mere admiration for his combative style and extreme views on issues like LGBTQ+ rights and race, which were well-known to voters when they elected him lieutenant governor. Trump has made some inroads with Black male voters, and his previous support for Robinson is seen as part of that effort to weaken the Democratic coalition.

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The Robinson scandal is just the latest in a string of chaotic developments in an already tumultuous presidential campaign season. The race has seen extraordinary moments, including President Joe Biden dropping out of the race after a disastrous debate performance just months before the election, and two assassination attempts on Trump.

While Trump’s campaign has been engulfed in controversies, Harris has focused on the fundamentals of campaigning, reaching out to critical groups like Hispanic, Black, and Asian American voters. On Thursday, she appeared at a “Unite for America” event with Oprah Winfrey, aimed at mobilizing White and Black women voters—two demographics that could be key to offsetting Trump’s strong support among White male voters.