Mark Robinson vows to rebuild his staff for North Carolina governor as Republican group backs away

WILKESBORO, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson vowed Monday to rebuild his campaign staff after several top aides quit and a key Republican group backed away from his race following a CNN report alleging he made explicit racial and sexual posts years ago on a pornography website’s message board.

Robinson, the sitting lieutenant governor, revealed Sunday that his campaign’s senior adviser, campaign manager and two other top staffers had stepped down. The senior adviser said separately that four other top aides also had quit.

And the Republican Governors Association — anticipated to run ads to boost Robinson’s bid into the fall and criticize Democratic rival Josh Stein — sounded ready to move on to other races. Recent polls have shown Stein, the current attorney general, ahead of Robinson. Stein also has outspent Robinson on the airwaves.

“We don’t comment on internal strategy or investment decisions, but we can confirm what’s public — our current media buy in North Carolina expires tomorrow, and no further placements have been made,” association spokesperson Courtney Alexander said Monday. “RGA remains committed to electing Republican Governors all across the country.”

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