Trump's Tainted Legacy: How the Former President's Endorsement Could Hurt Robinson's Campaign

Mark Robinson, the Republican candidate for governor of North Carolina, is facing a new challenge as the Democratic National Committee launches a digital advertisement and billboards linking him to former President Donald Trump. The DNC aims to cut into Trump's support in the state and flip North Carolina, which hasn't been won by a Democratic presidential candidate since 2008. Trump has publicly praised Robinson, calling him "outstanding" and "one of the hottest politicians. " Robinson has also spoken at the Republican National Convention and has been a frequent visitor to the White House. However, Robinson's campaign is under fire after a recent CNN report alleged that he made racist and antisemitic comments on a pornography website message board. Robinson has denied the report, calling the allegations "tabloid trash. " The controversy has given Democrats an opportunity to tie Trump to Robinson and paint the Republican candidate as a divisive figure. The DNC is using quotes from Trump praising Robinson to create billboards and digital ads that will target North Carolina voters. The move is seen as an attempt to cut into Trump's support in the state, which could be decisive in a close presidential race. Trump narrowly won North Carolina in 2020, but his campaign has been working to strengthen its ties with Robinson, who has vowed to stay in the race for governor.