Democrats launch new ad push to tie Trump to Mark Robinson following reported porn website comments

Within a day of CNN airing a shocking report about remarks allegedly made by Mark Robinson, the Republican candidate for governor of North Carolina, on an adult website, the Democratic National Committee rolled out new ads associating him with former President Donald Trump.

The DNC is set to roll out a fresh digital ad campaign along with around ten billboards that showcase Trump's admiration for Robinson, who serves as the lieutenant governor of North Carolina. This information comes from a source close to the situation and a statement issued by DNC regional press secretary Kenny Palmer. NBC News was the first to cover this new advertising initiative.

Democrats are trying to weaken Trump’s backing in the state by associating him with Robinson, as no Democratic presidential candidate has won there since 2008.

North Carolina might play a crucial role in a tightly contested presidential election. Senator JD Vance from Ohio, who is running alongside Trump, acknowledged that it would be "extremely challenging" for their campaign to succeed in November if the Democrats manage to take North Carolina.

The DNC will kick off its ad campaign this Friday. According to sources, the digital ads will focus on reaching voters in North Carolina through platforms like YouTube and Facebook. Additionally, Palmer mentioned in the press release that billboards will be displayed in various cities throughout the competitive state.

According to a source knowledgeable about the situation, television ads that seek to associate Trump with Robinson are certainly being considered. However, the source emphasized that nothing has been finalized yet.

The billboard showcases an image of Trump and Robinson together, accompanied by Trump's praises for Robinson. He states that "we need to appreciate Mark" and describes him as "remarkable" and an "amazing gentleman."

The digital ads express similar feelings, according to the source.

The campaigns of Trump and Robinson did not promptly reply to inquiries about the efforts by Democrats to connect the two men through advertising.

A report from CNN released on Thursday highlighted several racist and antisemitic statements that Robinson allegedly made on a message board related to an adult website. In a video shared prior to the publication of the report, Robinson dismissed the accusations as "tabloid nonsense."

CNN revealed that Robinson made these remarks between 2008 and 2012. He referred to himself as a "black NAZI," claimed that "slavery isn't bad," and expressed a desire for it to be reinstated.

Robinson mentioned that if he were affiliated with the Ku Klux Klan, he would have used a racial insult when talking about Martin Luther King Jr., as reported by CNN. In March, Trump described Robinson as "Martin Luther King on steroids."

"I mentioned that to Mark, saying, 'I believe you're even greater than Martin Luther King. In fact, I see you as twice the leader he was,'" Trump remarked during a rally in Greensboro where he supported Robinson's gubernatorial campaign.

Robinson was chosen as lieutenant governor in 2020 and has pledged to continue his campaign for governor.

Trump has lavished compliments on Robinson, referring to him as “remarkable” and “one of the most prominent figures in politics.” He mentioned that Robinson has "turned into a friend." Robinson also delivered a speech at this year's Republican National Convention.

DNC Chair Jaime Harrison expressed in a statement that "Donald Trump and Mark Robinson are both extreme figures associated with the MAGA movement. They share views against reproductive rights, deny the legitimacy of elections, and have a troubling history of promoting hate. It’s clear that Trump has consistently aligned himself with Robinson at every opportunity."

A representative from Trump’s campaign released a statement following the news report, but it did not refer to Robinson or the remarks that CNN claimed were made.

In a statement, spokesperson Karoline Leavitt highlighted that President Trump's campaign aims to reclaim the White House and improve the nation. She emphasized the importance of North Carolina in this strategy. "We're sure that when voters look at President Trump's achievements—such as a robust economy, low inflation, secure borders, and safe neighborhoods—compared to the shortcomings of Biden and Harris, Trump will emerge victorious in the Tarheel State once more. We're committed to staying focused on our goals."

Following the CNN report, the Harris campaign's X account made over six posts in just a few hours, highlighting the connection between Trump and Robinson. These posts featured footage of Trump praising Robinson during rallies, shaking his hand, and posing for photos with him.

In the 2020 election, Trump managed to win North Carolina by a small margin, capturing 49.9% of the votes compared to Joe Biden's 48.6%. The Democrats have focused their efforts on North Carolina as a potential state to turn in their favor this November. Gaining this state would grant the Harris campaign 16 electoral votes, which could be crucial in the overall outcome.

Abhi Rahman, a spokesperson for the DNC, stated in a text message that the state has previously been competitive, but now Republican extremism is prominent, evident from Trump to Robinson and extending to other candidates on the ballot.

Democrats have invested millions of dollars in advertising in the state, and Harris has visited several times this month for rallies. Last week, her two events in North Carolina attracted around 25,000 attendees in total.

A recent Quinnipiac University survey revealed that 49% of probable voters are backing Harris, while Trump is being supported by 46%. However, these findings fall within the poll's margin of error, which is 3.2 percentage points.

Megan Lebowitz works as a political journalist for NBC News.