Top Mark Robinson campaign aides quit
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Mark Robinson, lieutenant governor of North Carolina and candidate for governor, in Asheville, North Carolina, last month. Photo: Grant Baldwin/Getty Images
North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, North Carolina's Republican nominee for governor, announced a major staffing shakeup Sunday, days after CNN reported that he had called himself a "black NAZI" on an online porn forum.
The big picture: Robinson, who denies making comments outlined in the CNN investigation, announced in a statement that his top adviser Conrad Pogorzelski; Chris Rodriguez, campaign manager; Heather Whillier, finance director; and Jason Rizk, deputy campaign manager, "have stepped down from their roles with the campaign."
- "I appreciate the efforts of these team members who have made the difficult choice to step away from the campaign, and I wish them well in their future endeavors. I look forward to announcing new staff roles in the coming days," Robinson said.
Zoom in: Pogorzelski said in a text message Axios: "The reports are true that I, along with others from the campaign have left of our own accord."
- He said in addition to those announced that political director John Kontoulas, political director Jackson Lohrer and director of operations Patrick Riley had also resigned.
- Representatives for Robinson did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment on these other resignations.
Between the lines: Robinson had seen his poll numbers slide in the months before the CNN report, as other past incendiary comments he's made came under the spotlight.
Zoom out: Robinson said in his statement that polls had "consistently underestimated Republican support in North Carolina for several cycles now and with a large portion of the electorate still undecided as we continue to ramp up our efforts across the state," he's confident his campaign remains in a strong position to win on Nov. 5.
- Doug Heye, a Republican strategist from North Carolina told Axios over the phone that the staffing overhaul "doesn't matter because the campaign was already over."
The intrigue: Former President Trump endorsed Robinson in the Republican primary for governor, but the GOP presidential nominee made no mention of the lieutenant governor while campaigning in Wilmington, N.C., on Saturday.
- Democrats hope — and some Republicans fear — that Robinson could weigh down Trump in the state, where polls show the former president neck-and-neck with Vice President Kamala Harris.
- "Hurting somebody up ballot is very rare," Heye said. But right now, the possibility that Robinson hurts Trump "is real."
Go deeper: Democrats see path to N.C. victory following Robinson bombshell
Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.
