MAGA gov candidate may drop out ahead of 'damning' story about 'activity on adult websites'
North Carolina Republican gubernatorial candidate is now facing new pressure to drop out of the 2024 race amid reports that a forthcoming story could end his chances of victory.
The Carolina Journal — which is run by the conservative John Locke foundation – reported Thursday that the "damning" story about Robinson is prompting calls from within the North Carolina Republican Party to withdraw from the election. The Journal reported that the allegations involve "activity on adult websites in the 2000s."
An anonymous source told the publication that former President Donald Trump's campaign has communicated to Robinson that he is "no longer welcome" to appear alongside the GOP presidential nominee at his campaign rallies in the Tar Heel State. And Robinson's scheduled appearance alongside vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) was called off at the last minute, after Robinson reportedly tested positive for Covid-19.
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The allegations were reportedly leaked to CNN as well as Raleigh-based outlet WRAL by the campaign of Attorney General Josh Stein, who is the Democratic nominee in the gubernatorial race. However, Robinson is so far resisting calls to end his candidacy, with campaign spokesperson Michael Lonergan telling the Journal that the supposed new allegations are "complete fiction."
Robinson's reticence to end his campaign could be because the deadline to remove a candidate's name from the ballot has already passed. And Thursday marks the deadline for any North Carolina candidate to drop out of the election. The Journal reported that in the event Robinson ends his campaign, a new candidate would have to be chosen by the North Carolina Republican Party's executive committee. That candidate would then receive all votes cast for Robinson in November.
Should new allegations emerge, it could prove difficult for Republicans to keep the Tar Heel State red this November. Earlier this month, the Hill reported that Republicans are privately worried that the "torrent of negative headlines" about the party's nominee may end up harming the entire GOP ticket. Robinson has already caused headaches for his party over comments he made denying the Holocaust, calling the LGBTQ+ community "filth" and expressed fondness for returning the country to the time when women weren't allowed to vote.
“[Robinson’s] views are inconsistent with mainstream voters,” North Carolina-based Republican strategist Paul Shumaker told Vox earlier this year. “General elections are won in the middle in [North Carolina] and he will not be able to capture that group. I expect him to be an island to himself by the time November rolls around.”
READ MORE: GOP fears 'torrent of negative headlines' over NC gov candidate could cost them the race
Should the forthcoming report about Robinson's alleged activity on adult websites be published, it would be the second time North Carolina's lieutenant governor has been dogged by allegations of a questionable sexual nature. NJ Advance Media reported in September that five men who worked for a 24-hour adult merchandise store said Robinson was a frequent patron.
According to Louis Money, who was a former employee of Gents Video & News and I-40 Video & News, Robinson bought "hundreds" of bootleg pornographic videos, and often made trips to a private viewing both in the store. However, he maintained that Robinson's consumption of pornography shouldn't be viewed as disqualifying.
"I don’t trust anybody that doesn’t like good old American porn,” Money said. “He should be judged on everything else, but he should not be judged for this."
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Click here to read the Journal's report in its entirety.
