Will the allegations against Mark Robinson impact the GOP ticket?

CHARLOTTE ( QUEEN CITY NEWS ) — The impact of the recent report by CNN on Lt. Governor Mark Robinson's alleged inflammatory comments on a porn site more than a decade ago could be different depending on whether you go up or down the ballot and who you ask.

Bob Weston is a Republican through and through.

He's had a Donald Trump sign in his yard since 2016.

What you won't find is a Mark Robinson sign, but that doesn't mean he's not supporting the candidate.

Robinson, North Carolina's Republican lieutenant governor and candidate for governor, is under fire after a recent report from CNN that says Robinson referred to himself as a "Black Nazi," "a perv," and talked about reinstating slavery, and watching transgender porn on a porn website more than ten years ago—all allegations that Robinson denies.

"He says that it's an AI invention," said Weston.

Weston doesn't put much stock in the CNN report, but other things concern him about Robinson.

"I'm pro-life, but he drug it down in the dirt a little bit, and he's been a disappointment with his rhetoric," said Weston.

Republican voters react to bombshell Mark Robinson report

"Enough of a disappointment for you not to vote for him?" asked Queen City News Anchor Robin Kanady.

"No, it's not; he's still better than the other guy in my opinion," answered Weston.

Weston's loyalty to Robinson probably isn't enough to get him a win in the governor's race, according to Davidson College political science professor Dr. Susan Roberts.

She believes the CNN report is the death blow for Robinson.

"If there's any voter that is undecided, they are not going to decide on Mark Robinson. If they decide not to vote, that's a vote for Josh Stein, so I don't think there's any question that he's going to lose," said Dr. Roberts.

Dr. Roberts says more things, especially these recent allegations against Robinson, will stick to him more than other things have and will stick to Trump.

"I think Trump—he's not Velcro, everything is not sticking to Trump, but he's not quite Teflon, so there's a middle ground," said Dr. Roberts.

At a time when political rhetoric is off the charts, Dr. Roberts believes there are some claims some voters won't forgive.

"The bar is pretty low, but it's not as low as pornography and some other things that I'll just use the word, and I haven't seen it used, sordid," said Dr. Roberts.

Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson dismisses shocking comments on porn forum unearthed in report as 'salacious tabloid trash'

Dr. Roberts believes that since the presidential race will be so close in North Carolina, the allegations against Robinson are likely going to help Kamala Harris and hurt Donald Trump.

But when it comes to down-the-ballot races, North Carolina House and Senate races, along with federal contests, Dr. Roberts says the districts are so gerrymandered that the Robinson factor likely won't have much of an impact, except possibly in a few key races.