Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson is currently being treated for burns following an incident at a campaign event in Mt. Airy, according to his communications director. The details surrounding the incident are unclear, but it has led to the cancellation of a North Carolina Faith & Freedom event where Robinson was set to speak. The venue did not have power due to the effects of Hurricane Helene in parts of North Carolina.
The incident comes after a CNN report alleged that Robinson made antisemitic and racist comments on a porn website years ago. In response to the report, four top staff members of Robinson’s campaign stepped down. Despite the controversy, Robinson has denied the allegations and remained defiant.
The Harris campaign, seeking to tie Robinson to former President Donald Trump who endorsed him prior to the release of the CNN report, hopes that the controversy surrounding Robinson’s candidacy will help Democrats flip the state blue. Trump won North Carolina by a narrow margin in 2020, and Republicans recognize the importance of the state in winning the White House.
Robinson’s hospitalization for burns adds another layer of uncertainty to his campaign, which has already been marred by the allegations in the CNN report. It remains to be seen how this incident and the previous controversy will impact Robinson’s candidacy and the Republican Party’s chances in North Carolina.
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