WILMINGTON, N.C. (AP) 鈥� returns to North Carolina on Saturday, stumping in the southern battleground state that both Democrats and Republicans are treating as increasingly critical to victory in November.
But Trump will be campaigning in Wilmington, along the state's southern coast, without Lt. Gov. , the GOP gubernatorial nominee and one of the former president's top surrogates in the state, following a about his alleged posts on a pornography website鈥檚 message board. Two people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity said Friday that Robinson was not scheduled to attend the Wilmington event.
Robinson has denied writing the posts, which include lewd and racist comments, saying Thursday that he wouldn鈥檛 be forced out of the race by 鈥渟alacious tabloid lies.鈥� Trump's campaign has appeared to distance itself from Robinson in the wake of the CNN reporting, which the AP has not independently verified, saying in a statement to the AP that Trump 鈥渋s focused on winning the White House and saving this country" and calling North Carolina 鈥渁 vital part of that plan," without mentioning Robinson.
While Robinson won his GOP gubernatorial primary in March, he鈥檚 been trailing in several recent polls to Democratic nominee , the state鈥檚 attorney general. State Republican officials have stood by Robinson, whose decision to keep campaigning could threaten GOP prospects in other key races, including Trump鈥檚 efforts in a battleground state he previously won twice.
Democrats have seized on the opportunity to highlight Trump's ties to Robinson, with billboards showing the two together, as well as a new ad from Vice President ' campaign highlighting the Republican candidates' ties as well as Robinson's support for a statewide abortion ban without exceptions. According to Harris' campaign, it's their first ad effort related to tying Trump to a down-ballot race.
Trump's first outdoor rally since the to assassinate him is at a Wilmington airport, where a large American flag hung from a crane, with hundreds of chairs and standing room for many more spectators. Bulletproof glass surrounded the area on stage where Trump was slated to speak, a for outdoor venues the Secret Service implemented after a bullet during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Charlie Kimball, a 46-year-old former construction worker from Burgaw, who said he is currently on disability, dismissed the allegations against Robinson as 鈥渇ake news."
鈥淭hat鈥檚 his personal life. Who cares?鈥� Kimball said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 all hearsay. 鈥� It鈥檚 not true. It鈥檚 all speculation. Where鈥檚 the proof?"
A Republican has carried North Carolina in every general election since 1976 save one, when Barack Obama won the state in 2008. Trump won there in both his previous campaigns but by over Democrat Joe Biden in 2020, the closest margin of any state that Trump won. That's part of why Democrats see the state as winnable this fall.
With neither Senate seat up for grabs, the gubernatorial contest has been North Carolina's marquee down-ballot race this year. Robinson has become a natural top surrogate for Trump in the state and a frequent presence at campaign events there, appearing with the nominee as recently as an event last month in Asheboro. Trump has long praised Robinson, who is Black, referring to him as 鈥淢artin Luther King on steroids."
Endorsing Robinson ahead of the GOP gubernatorial primary, Trump continued: 鈥淚 think you鈥檙e better than Martin Luther King. I think you are Martin Luther King times two.鈥�
While more visits have been made by presidential contenders to the Rust Belt battlegrounds of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, both Harris and Trump have to North Carolina, highlighting the state鈥檚 importance. Following Biden鈥檚 departure from the race in July, Trump held there, turning his full focus toward Harris.
Wilmington is home to New Hanover County, which Biden won in 2020. But his margin over Trump in the county was among his slimmest in the state.
Julia Novotny, 55, of Wilmington, said she's come around to supporting Trump after initial reservations because of allegations that he's been to women, which he denies.
鈥淗e鈥檚 classy, he鈥檚 a gentleman, he looks good in a suit and he has strong values,鈥� Novotny said. 鈥淓verybody makes mistakes, and whether he did or didn鈥檛, I don鈥檛 know, but you know what? Leave him alone. He鈥檚 a good man. He wants to change this country. Our country is in the dirt, and the only man who pulls us out is Donald Trump.鈥�
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Meg Kinnard can be reached at . Associated Press writers Michelle L. Price in New York and Jonathan J. Cooper in Phoenix contributed to this report.
Meg Kinnard And Erik Verduzco, The Associated Press
