Mark Robinson: North Carolina nominee denies calling himself ‘black Nazi’ on porn site
The Republican candidate running to be governor of North Carolina has denied accusations he called himself a "Black Nazi" on a pornography website and insisted he would not drop out of the race.
On Thursday, CNN claimed it had uncovered information showing Mark Robinson, 56, had posted what it termed inflammatory comments on a pornography website's message board more than a decade ago.
According to CNN, posting under the username minisoldr on the site Nude Africa, Mr Robinson reportedly described secretly "peeping" on women in the showers of public gymnasiums as a teenager.
Mr Robinson, whose campaign in backed by Donald Trump and who is currently the state's Lt Gov, also allegedly termed himself as a "black NAZI!" and expressed support for reinstating slavery.
CNN said it had declined to publish much of the content it had uncovered, given its graphic nature. It also reported that Mr Robinson had denied making the comments.
On Thursday, the candidate posted a video on X, in which he said: "We are staying in this race. We are in it to win it. And we know that with your help, we will."
Mr Robinson, who is trailing in the polls to Democrat Josh Stein by as much as eight points, has a history of making controversial and often unsettling comments.
Over the years he has made anti-semitic comments, questioned the Holocaust, and often attacked the LGBT+ community.
An avowed evangelical Christian who has often been asked to deliver sermons, he attacked transgender people as "filth".
"And yes, I called it filth," he said, in 2021. "And if you don't like that I called it filth, come see me and I'll explain it to you."
Mr Robinson's campaign did not respond to questions from The Telegraph.
The campaign of Mr Stein said in a statement: "North Carolinians already know Mark Robinson is completely unfit to be Governor."
Earlier, Mr Stein had declined to hold a debate with Mr Robinson, saying he had "spent his entire public life spewing hate, lying about his record, and spreading dangerous and false conspiracy theories".
A spokesperson added: "A debate would only serve to legitimise him and provide a platform for his vile and dangerous rhetoric."
The furore has been lept upon by critics of Trump, who has frequently voiced his support for Mr Robinson.
Mr Robinson had been considered a rising star in the Republican party.
Ahead of the March primary, Trump told a rally in Greensboro that Mr Robinson was "Martin Luther King on steroids" for his speaking ability.
As it is, Mr Trump is already having to fight harder than expected to win North Carolina and its 16 electoral college votes.
Barack Obama was the last Democrat to win the state in 2008, but polls suggest Democratic candidate Kamala Harris is closing the gap there with Trump .
Trump has yet to comment on the accusations.
