Trump Returns To North Carolina With out Allegedly Self-Described ‘Black Nazi’ Mark Robinson

WILMINGTON, N.C. (AP) — Donald Trump returns to North Carolina on Saturday, stumping within the southern battleground state that each Democrats and Republicans are treating as more and more vital to victory in November.

However Trump can be campaigning in Wilmington, alongside the state’s southern coast, with out Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, the GOP gubernatorial nominee and one of many former president’s high surrogates within the state, following a CNN report about his alleged posts on a pornography web site’s message board. Two folks aware of the matter who spoke on situation of anonymity mentioned Friday that Robinson was not scheduled to attend the Wilmington occasion.

Robinson has denied writing the posts, which embrace lewd and racist feedback, saying Thursday that he wouldn’t be pressured out of the race by “salacious tabloid lies.” Trump’s marketing campaign has appeared to distance itself from Robinson within the wake of the CNN reporting, which the AP has not independently verified, saying in assertion 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,” with out mentioning Robinson.

Whereas Robinson gained his GOP gubernatorial major in March, he’s been trailing in a number of latest polls to Democratic nominee Josh Stein, the state’s lawyer normal. State Republican officers have stood by Robinson, whose determination to maintain campaigning may threaten GOP prospects in different key races, together with Trump’s efforts in a battleground state he beforehand gained twice.

Democrats have seized on the chance to spotlight Trump’s ties to Robinson, with billboards exhibiting the 2 collectively, in addition to a brand new advert from Vice President Kamala Harris ′ marketing campaign highlighting the Republican candidates’ ties in addition to Robinson’s help for a statewide abortion ban with out exceptions. In keeping with Harris’ marketing campaign, it’s their first advert effort associated to tying Trump to a down-ballot race.

A Republican has carried North Carolina in each normal election since 1976 save one, when Barack Obama gained the state in 2008. Trump gained there in each his earlier campaigns however by lower than 1.5 proportion factors over Democrat Joe Biden in 2020, the closest margin of any state that Trump gained. That’s a part of why Democrats see the state as winnable this fall.

With neither Senate seat up for grabs, the gubernatorial contest has been North Carolina’s marquee down-ballot race this yr. Robinson has turn into a pure high surrogate for Trump within the state and a frequent presence at marketing campaign occasions there, showing with the nominee as lately as an occasion final month in Asheboro. Trump has lengthy praised Robinson, who’s Black, referring to him as “Martin Luther King on steroids.”

Endorsing Robinson forward of the GOP gubernatorial major, Trump continued: “I think you’re better than Martin Luther King. I think you are Martin Luther King times two.”

Whereas extra visits have been made by presidential contenders to the Rust Belt battlegrounds of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, each Harris and Trump have made a number of journeys to North Carolina, highlighting the state’s significance. Following Biden’s departure from the race in July, Trump held his first large-scale rally there, turning his full focus towards Harris.

Wilmington is dwelling to New Hanover County, which Biden gained in 2020. However his margin over Trump within the county was amongst his slimmest within the state. ___

Meg Kinnard reported from Chapin, South Carolina, and may be reached at http://x.com/MegKinnardAP. Related Press author Michelle L. Worth in New York contributed to this report.