Will the Mark Robinson Scandal Affect Trump’s Chances of Winning North Carolina?

On September 19, CNN (Lean Left bias) published a report that levied allegations against Republican North Carolina gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson, leaving many to question the effect it could have on the presidential vote up-ballot.

Unclear Consequences: An analysis by Peter Slevin for The New Yorker (Left bias) noted how Democrats have highlighted Trump’s ties to Robinson. It included quotes from analysts who emphasized the importance of North Carolina for Trump and how tight the race may be. Slevin concluded that the effect it could have on Trump’s effort is unclear, but that North Carolina voters are known to split the ticket, with 10% of Trump voters having already planned to vote for Robinson’s Democratic foe, Josh Stein.

Non-Factor: National Review’s Editorial Board (Right bias) wrote that it “seems unlikely” that Robinson ”is so toxic that he threatens Donald Trump’s hold on” North Carolina. The Editors predicted that if Trump loses North Carolina, it will be “on his own demerits, not those of a downballot candidate long since given up for dead.”

Across the Spectrum: Across the spectrum, media outlets have painted a dismal picture of Robinson’s chances in the gubernatorial race. The Wall Street Journal (Center bias) cited a national Republican strategist from North Carolina who said that even before the scandal, Robinson’s campaign was on “life support.”