Democratic Rep. Jeff Jackson of North Carolina said Friday that a CNN report detailing racist and obscene online comments allegedly made years ago by Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson could influence the outcome of the U.S. presidential election in the state.
In an interview with “CNN This Morning,” Jackson said the public is “seeing an implosion of this candidate the likes of which we’ve never seen in North Carolina, frankly.”
“Normally, someone running for governor, even if he or she underperforms, would not affect the rest of the field, but this is not normal,” he said.
Jackson added that most state elections in North Carolina this season are essentially “50-50 races,” meaning news in November could prove decisive if it affects the vote.
“If he could influence it by half a percent, which he certainly could, he could influence a whole lot of elections, including the presidential election,” Jackson said of Robinson, who currently serves as the state’s lieutenant governor.
CNN on Thursday published controversial comments Robinson allegedly made on a pornography website’s message board between 2008 and 2012, in which he called himself a “black Nazi” and spoke about his appreciation for transgender porn.
Robinson, who has been vocal recently about anti-transgender rhetoric, denied making the comments and vowed to remain in the race for governor.
Former President Donald Trump, the GOP candidate for the White House, endorsed Robinson earlier this year. Trump has repeatedly praised him, calling him “better” than civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr.
Trump did not comment on Robinson’s alleged posts in speeches he gave on Thursday, as his campaign reportedly plans to distance itself from Robinson in the future, according to The New York Times. In a statement released after the CNN story broke, Trump’s campaign did not name Robinson or the allegations but said it is “focused on winning the White House and saving this country. North Carolina is a critical part of that plan.”
Jackson, who is running for the state’s attorney general, told CNN that Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris is making a conscious effort to win North Carolina, a key battleground in the 2024 race. She cited the 28 field offices her campaign has opened in the state and her investment in “TV time” to reach voters there, among other things.
“She is using every means possible to win this state,” he said.
On Thursday, Trump held a one-tenth of a percentage point lead over Harris in North Carolina, according to an average of polls compiled by FiveThirtyEight.
Jackson predicted that some Republicans would distance themselves from Robinson after this week’s controversy.
“I think you’re going to see a bunch of Republicans who were very supportive of Robinson reverse their stance,” he told CNN. “Robinson was the guy you wanted to have at your fundraiser if you were a Republican in North Carolina the last few years. They all have pictures with him. They all praised him when he was running. I think they’re going to have to reverse that stance.”
But for now, the North Carolina Republican Party is defending Robinson.
“Mark Robinson has categorically denied CNN’s allegations, but that hasn’t stopped the left from demonizing him through personal attacks,” it wrote. “The left needs this election to be a personality contest, not a policy contest, because when voters focus on policy, Republicans win on Election Day.”
