North Carolina: The Key Battleground Shaping Trump's Political Future

Former President Trump's campaign is worried about North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson's controversial statements and past actions. They fear that Robinson's issues could hurt Trump’s chances in this important swing state during the election on November 5. North Carolina has typically voted for Republicans, but if Trump does poorly there, it could signal bigger problems for him.

Recently, Trump’s team distanced itself from Robinson after reports surfaced of Robinson making offensive comments online, including calling himself a "black NAZI" and expressing support for reinstating slavery. A Trump campaign official emphasized that Robinson's campaign issues are separate from Trump's.

Trump, who once praised Robinson, seems to be backing away as the deadline for Robinson to drop out of the governor's race passed without any action from him. Concerns about Robinson had been growing for some time, especially as polls showed him trailing behind Trump. This could mean he might take votes away from Trump in North Carolina.

Michael Whatley, chairman of the Republican National Committee, acknowledged the polls, indicating that Robinson might hurt Trump's performance. In the past, many of Trump’s preferred candidates lost their races, and the campaign is trying to avoid those types of candidates this time.

Robinson missed an event with Trump’s running mate, Sen. JD Vance, raising questions about his campaign's stability. Although Trump had previously praised Robinson and even hinted at his potential future as president, it seems the support is fading.

Trump is set to hold a rally in Wilmington, NC, but Robinson is not expected to join him. The Trump campaign insists they are focused on winning North Carolina and believe that when voters compare Trump’s record with President Biden's, Trump will win the state again. They haven’t mentioned Robinson in their statements.

On the other hand, Vice President Harris has energized the Democratic base, forcing Trump to spend more money in North Carolina than he did in previous campaigns. So far, Trump’s campaign and a supporting super PAC have spent nearly $40 million on ads in the state. Robinson is scheduled to face Attorney General Josh Stein, a Democrat, in the upcoming election for governor.