共和黨在必勝的北卡羅來納州吸收了政治衝擊波

In North Carolina, a significant political event is unfolding that could have major implications for the state's future. Mark Robinson, the Lieutenant Governor and a candidate for Governor, is at the center of a controversy that has raised eyebrows among both Republicans and Democrats. This situation began when a report from CNN claimed that Robinson had referred to himself as a 'black Nazi' on a pornographic website over a decade ago. Robinson, who identifies as an evangelical Christian, has vehemently denied these allegations, labeling the report as 'tabloid lies'. While the claims have not been independently verified by other news organizations, the reaction to the news has been surprisingly muted, particularly among a group of Republican women in Johnston County. During a meeting of the Johnston County Republican Women’s committee, Adele Walker, a member of the group, expressed her views on the matter. She stated that if the accusations were true, it was a personal issue for Robinson and his wife, and not something that concerned her. Walker also mentioned that the group had decided to increase their financial support for Robinson's campaign, despite the fact that he is currently trailing behind the Democratic candidate, Josh Stein, who serves as the state's attorney general. This indicates that some supporters remain loyal to Robinson, regardless of the controversy surrounding him. The perspectives of conservative women like Walker are being closely monitored in this election cycle, not only in North Carolina but across the United States. With the election approaching in November, the stakes are high, and many are curious about how this situation will influence voter behavior. Former President Donald Trump has previously endorsed Robinson, praising him as 'Martin Luther King on steroids'. However, even before the CNN report surfaced, Robinson was already under scrutiny for his past comments. In a Facebook video from 2019, he made controversial remarks regarding abortion, suggesting that women should be 'responsible enough to keep your skirt down'. Additionally, in 2021, he expressed that children should not be exposed to discussions about 'transgenderism, homosexuality, any of that filth', and he later refused to apologize for these statements. Political analysts are now expressing concerns that Robinson's candidacy could be detrimental to the Republican party's chances in the upcoming election. Some Republicans fear that Robinson's controversial remarks may discourage their base from voting or even motivate more Democrats to turn out at the polls. North Carolina has historically leaned Republican, with Barack Obama being the only Democrat to win the state in the last 44 years, and he only achieved this once in 2008. However, the state's growing urban areas are shifting the political balance, and Democrats are optimistic that this could be the year they turn North Carolina blue. A recent poll conducted by Emerson College Polling/The Hill indicated that the race is extremely close, with Harris leading Trump by just one percentage point. This margin is within the error range, meaning the outcome is still uncertain. According to political scientist Steven Greene, North Carolina is crucial for any Republican candidate aiming for the White House. He stated, 'It's a lot harder to see Donald Trump getting to 270 without North Carolina than Kamala Harris', referring to the number of electoral votes needed to win the presidency. Scott Lassiter, a Republican candidate for the state senate, expressed his disappointment that Robinson did not withdraw from the race before a state deadline, which would have allowed another Republican candidate to take his place. Lassiter believes that Robinson is a liability for the party, stating that Democrats would prefer every race to focus on Robinson at this point. Although Robinson has been a familiar face at Trump’s campaign events, he will not be attending a rally in Wilmington this weekend. Nevertheless, some of Robinson's supporters continue to stand by him. Chris Meadows, a Republican leader from Guilford County, defended Robinson, asserting that the allegations against him are unsubstantiated. He expressed skepticism about the credibility of CNN, stating, 'In the age of the improvement of AI, I really don’t put any credibility in any of this until he admits it'. As the election approaches, experts like Greene emphasize that voter turnout will be the deciding factor. It remains unclear how Robinson's presence in the race will impact this turnout. Many voters have likely already formed their opinions about him. In Johnston County, one Republican voter, who chose to remain anonymous, stated that he would not support Robinson due to his outspoken nature, but he still plans to vote for Trump. Another voter, Evelyn Costelloe, who has previously voted for Republicans, indicated that she would support the Democrats this time because of their stance on abortion. She expressed that Robinson's comments have influenced her decision, saying, 'I don’t know about all these accusations, but I do know the stuff he’s said. Stuff like that makes me want to vote for sure'. Given that Trump won North Carolina by a narrow margin of about 75,000 votes in the last election, even minor political fallout from Robinson could significantly affect the results. For now, North Carolina remains a battleground state, with both Republican and Democratic influences vying for control.