A controversy in North Carolina’s governor race has sparked reactions from various political figures, including Vice President Kamala Harris, who is using this situation to highlight former President Donald Trump’s associations with the main figure in the story.

Mark Robinson, the Republican Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina and candidate for governor, has come under scrutiny due to a CNN investigation that revealed troubling remarks he allegedly made on a pornography-themed message board over ten years ago, before he entered the political arena. In these remarks, he identified himself with terms like “black NAZI” and “perv,” and expressed support for slavery.

Robinson disputed the authenticity of these remarks during a CNN interview. However, this significant development coincides with the intensifying 2024 presidential campaign, where North Carolina’s outcome is pivotal for both Trump and Harris.

Here’s what you need to know about this report and the reactions from both presidential campaigns.

Mark Robinson remains in the race, blames Democratic rival

Robinson accused his Democratic opponent, Josh Stein, of leaking the story to CNN, likening the situation to a “high-tech lynching,” echoing a statement made by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

“I assure you, the allegations in that story do not reflect my words. You know me, my character, and how transparent I have been during this campaign,” Robinson stated in a video shared on X.

Despite some calls from fellow North Carolina Republicans for his withdrawal from the race, Robinson pledged to continue his campaign. Prior to the CNN report, he had been trailing Stein in polls.

Notably, the deadline for exiting the race has passed as North Carolina plans to start sending absentee ballots to military and overseas voters on Friday.

Harris campaign quickly connects Robinson to Trump

The Harris campaign’s Twitter account, KamalaHQ, swiftly responded to the CNN story by sharing a video that humorously depicted Trump and Robinson as “best friends.”

The video emphasized Trump’s past comments about Robinson, referring to him as “Martin Luther King on steroids” and “a fine wine.”

The Harris campaign also confirmed that they will launch advertisements targeting North Carolina voters with a similar narrative beginning Friday.

Robinson has received Trump’s endorsement in the past, making this connection noteworthy.

The lieutenant governor has been known for his controversial remarks regarding the LGBTQ community and women’s reproductive rights.

Trump campaign avoids taking a stance on Robinson

While reports indicated that Trump campaign staff encouraged Robinson to withdraw, the campaign refrained from confirming these claims or condemning Robinson’s comments.

“The Trump campaign is focused on winning back the White House and revitalizing this country. North Carolina is essential to our strategy,” said Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for Trump’s campaign. “We will remain focused on our goals.”

In the context of the 2024 elections, North Carolina is recognized as a significant battleground. The last Democrat to win the state was in 2008, and Trump narrowly defeated Joe Biden in 2020, securing 50.1% of the votes compared to Biden’s 48.7%. There are concerns that the Robinson controversy could negatively impact Trump’s prospects in North Carolina.

Contributors: James Powel and Savannah Kuchar