North Carolina’s political landscape is heating up as the first presidential election poll after the scandal surrounding Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson surfaces. Surprisingly, it seems the controversy isn’t swaying voters too much.
A recent poll from the Independent Center and the Bullfinch Group shows Vice President Kamala Harris leading Robinson by just one point (49% to 48%). This margin falls within the error range, indicating a tight race similar to earlier polls prior to CNN’s shocking report on Robinson.
The race between Harris and former President Donald Trump remains tight in North Carolina, although Robinson’s gubernatorial campaign appears to be struggling. Current averages from FiveThirtyEight show Democrat Josh Stein holding a substantial lead over him.
The infractions reported by CNN involve posts on an adult website connected to a user identified as Robinson. Allegations included the promotion of transgender pornography and comments expressing a desire to own slaves, along with a self-identification as a “black Nazi.”
In the aftermath of the report, several of Robinson’s senior staff resigned. The lieutenant governor has denied these claims, labeling them as “salacious tabloid lies.” On Tuesday, he announced plans to engage the Binnall Law Group to rigorously investigate the allegations and take legal action against CNN.
Robinson stated, “I’m confident that Binnall Law Group will leave no stone unturned to hold CNN accountable for their lies.”
Newsweek has reached out to the Trump campaign for further insight on the poll and their activities in North Carolina.Is Trump Still a Contender in North Carolina?
Preceding the Robinson debacle, North Carolina had already shown signs of shifting toward the Democratic side, reminiscent of its voting for Obama in 2008.
Once seen as a reliable Republican stronghold, recent energy from Harris’ campaign has driven substantial investment in the state, prompting both Trump and his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, to increase their visibility and efforts in the region.
Former Governor Pat McCrory noted that North Carolina has seen an influx of “transplanted COVID voters” from traditionally blue states like California and New York, which may not be reflected in current polling but could potentially sway the election by a few key points.