Associated Press
Donald Trump returns to North Carolina on Saturday, stumping in the southern battleground state that both Democrats and Republicans are treating as increasingly critical to victory in November.
But Trump will be campaigning in Wilmington, along the state’s southern coast, without Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, the GOP gubernatorial nominee and one of the former president’s top surrogates in the state, following a CNN report about his alleged posts on a pornography website’s message board. Two people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity said Friday that Robinson was not scheduled to attend the Wilmington event.
Robinson has denied writing the posts, which include lewd and racist comments, saying Thursday that he wouldn’t be forced out of the race by “salacious tabloid lies.” Trump’s campaign has appeared to distance itself from Robinson in the wake of the CNN reporting, which the AP has not independently verified, saying in statement to the AP that Trump “is focused on winning the White House and saving this country” and calling North Carolina “a vital part of that plan,” without mentioning Robinson.
While Robinson won his GOP gubernatorial primary in March, he’s been trailing in several recent polls to Democratic nominee Josh Stein, the state’s attorney general. State Republican officials have stood by Robinson, whose decision to keep campaigning could threaten GOP prospects in other key races, including Trump’s efforts in a battleground state he previously won twice.
Democrats have seized on the opportunity to highlight Trump’s ties to Robinson, with billboards showing the two together, as well as a new ad from Vice President Kamala Harris‘ campaign highlighting the Republican candidates’ ties as well as Robinson’s support for a statewide abortion ban without exceptions. According to Harris’ campaign, it’s their first ad effort related to tying Trump to a down-ballot race.
A Republican has carried North Carolina in every general election since 1976 save one, when Barack Obama won the state in 2008. Trump won there in both his previous campaigns but by less than 1.5 percentage points over Democrat Joe Biden in 2020, the closest margin of any state that Trump won. That’s part of why Democrats see the state as winnable this fall.
26 comments
PeterH
September 21, 2024 at 8:51 am
Trump “hardly knew” the wingnut he called Martin Luther King on steroids! 🤪
Michael K
September 21, 2024 at 11:30 pm
The convicted felon and adjudicated sexual abuser who boasted about granbing women by their genitals is distancing himself from a guy he called MLK on steroids? Seems more like two peas in a pod.
Ocean Joe
September 21, 2024 at 8:52 am
Translation: Robinson gets thrown under the bus, but hangs onto the bumper long enough to cost Trump North Carolina.
Michael K
September 21, 2024 at 9:19 am
Just wait until JD gets thrown under the bus. They all do, eventually.
Remember when Trump promised us he would only hire the best people? His administration had 215 criminal indictments. Obama: 0.
Bobblehead Kammy
September 21, 2024 at 9:53 am
CNN, of course as they are an arm of the Democratic Party. Not excusing Robinson if the allegations are true. If he did write this stuff, then he is truly a dumb azz and is done politically.
Jojo
September 21, 2024 at 10:25 am
Oh, as is Fox is an arm of the Republican Party?
Bobblehead Kammy
September 21, 2024 at 10:33 am
Compare FOX to CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, NBC, The View, most if not all major newspapers, NPR, this site and many others. See the advantage there in numbers?
The Cat In The MAGA Hat
September 21, 2024 at 1:29 pm
Maybe Robinson want to get between your groins Google Mark Robinson Women Groins
Bobblehead Kammy
September 21, 2024 at 2:33 pm
How you doing Yrral. I’m still looking for that decoder book.😜
rick whitaker
September 21, 2024 at 8:35 pm
MAGA MARK, you didn’t mention the best network. TYT is what you need to watch to clean your head out.
Michael K
September 21, 2024 at 11:48 am
It’s a well-known fact that reality seems to have a liberal bias.
Tom
September 22, 2024 at 4:38 pm
I don’t ordinarily watch cable news but I did see some guy called Waters or something like that on Fox recently while sitting in a waiting room and I was surprised that someone could sit there with a straight face and just talk crap like that. I’m sure there are left leaning channels equally as bad but I was surprised how unhinged it was. Bizarro world from Seinfeld has nothing on this.
Jojo
September 21, 2024 at 10:24 am
They have the best people don’t they?
The Sage "E"
September 21, 2024 at 10:40 am
Good Morn ‘Ting America,
STAND BY FOR NEWS:
Everyone just calm down and “Relax Your Political Sphincters” as this is just a “Dook 4 Brains Leftist” A. P. Pure “D” piece of Propaganda designed in a desperate attempt to make us Sage Patriots think The Democrats have a SnowBalls Chance In Hell of winning the POTUS race or any critical down-ballot races.
AGAIN:
1.) Pure “D” Propaganda.
2.) The “Relax Your Political Sage Patriot Sphincters Order” is going out for Full Implementation to all Sage Patriots.
IN CLOSING:
Thank you for the time you all took to “Ruminate” on my above Golden Nugg of Sphincter Relaxing Sage Wisdom,
The Sage “E”
Former Democrat Tom
September 21, 2024 at 11:06 am
I’m Tom and by following this guy E for a few months I am abandoning my lifelong membership of the democrat party. I cant wait to cast my Trump vote. Around 3/4th of the democrats in my Masonic Temple have made the switch with me. I dont know how many Black Brothers who are Masons are swtiching but we are a pretty normal cross section of The Massonic Temples nation wide.
Democrats did not even reach out to any Black Masonic members.
Tom “He Who Is Stands With Our Brother E”
The Cat In The MAGA Hat
September 21, 2024 at 1:44 pm
Another insane in the membrane Republicans insane in the brain,crazy loco ,got no brains insane in the membrane, insane in the brain
rick whitaker
September 21, 2024 at 8:31 pm
EARL SHITTS, the AP sure knows how to write an article don’t they. i see you hang on their every post. sphincterman, you are such a bad joke.
THE SAGE "E" [FKA ELVIS FKA EARL]
September 21, 2024 at 9:07 pm
Thank you my Besty Lefty, Rick, your “Wacky Lefty” contrarian follow-ups to my Sage Wisdom always elevate my Sage Commentary to “Genius Level Truth, Justice, and The American Way.
Love you my Besty Lefty, Rick !!!,
THE SAGE “E” [FKA ELVIS FKA EARL]
THE SAGE "E" [FKA ELVIS FKA EARL]
September 21, 2024 at 9:10 pm
I, THE SAGE “E” [FKA ELVIS FKA EARL], am so thankfull for me being me.
Thank you, THE SAGE “E” [FKA ELVIS FKA EARL], your welcome, THE SAGE “E” [FKA ELVIS FKA EARL],
Yours truley, THE SAGE “E” [FKA ELVIS FKA EARL]
rick whitaker
September 21, 2024 at 9:17 pm
EARL, you love me, and i hate you. that is odd. everyone hates you i presume, so maybe it’s not so odd. you brought your loneliness on yourself. you are an addled fool. people can stand that for a while, then they can’t. in other words, your schtick sucks.
THE SAGE "E" [FKA ELVIS FKA EARL]
September 21, 2024 at 10:27 pm
Again another “Sage” Wackey Leftist Contrarian Reply to My, THE SAGE “E” [FKA ELVIS FKA EARL]’s Sage Wisdom.
Thank you so much my “Beloved Besty Lefty, Rick”.
You are truley “The Wind Beneith My Sage Wings”,
Thanks Buddy let me know when your back in Florida and we will mess around again with some of Florida’s Finest Pole Dancers,
THE SAGE “E” [FKA ELVIS FKA EARL]
THE SAGE "E" [FKA ELVIS FKA EARL]
September 21, 2024 at 10:33 pm
Y’all Rick & I really are “Bestys” and all the Sexy Pole Dancers in Florida eagerly await Rick and “E” to walk back into their “Hoochie Mama” Florida Strip Clubs.
Hurry up and get down here to Florida from your “Boring @55 State of Tennessee !!!!!
Bobblehead Kammy
September 22, 2024 at 7:34 am
Looks like you and I both live rent free in Tennessee Rick’s head. We should start charging him. 🤣
rick whitaker
September 22, 2024 at 5:34 pm
MAGA MARK, you and earl are two of the three stooges. i like watching you clowns bounce off the walls. earl childishly says i’m his buddy. i wouldn’t give earl water if he was drowning. that says a lot about earl, what a old wore out redneck. you, well you are so screwed up psychologically, that it would be cruel to actually treat you the way i think you deserve. i am somewhat empathetic, but not much.
rick whitaker
September 22, 2024 at 5:41 pm
EARL, trust me you don’t want to ever meet me. i suffer no fools. you couldn’t pay me to step in florida. it’s a hellhole as you know. i can afford and choose to live in a better state.
Elmo
September 22, 2024 at 2:40 pm
Call it what it is. Trump’s Nazi Campaign Tour