Kamala Harris’ campaign advisers believe the ongoing scandal involving North Carolina gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson has provided a significant opening to gain support from Black and suburban voters in the crucial battleground state. As Donald Trump’s ties to Robinson become a focal point of the controversy, Harris’ team is aiming to capitalize on this moment to swing North Carolina in favor of the Democrats for the first time since 2008.
In a memo exclusively shared with POLITICO, Harris’ campaign advisers Scott Falmlen and L.T. McCrimmon outlined their strategy. The plan involves using the negative media attention surrounding Robinson to target key voter groups, particularly in suburban areas around Charlotte and Raleigh, as well as moderate Republicans and Black voters. These voters are seen as crucial to Harris’ chances of flipping North Carolina, which Trump narrowly won in 2020.
Tying Robinson to Trump
Rather than focusing on a CNN report that highlighted Robinson’s crude comments on a pornographic website, Harris’ team plans to emphasize Robinson’s controversial policy positions and his close ties to Trump. The campaign will remind voters of the longstanding alliance between Trump and Robinson, portraying Robinson as a product of Trump’s influence on the Republican Party.
“Trump made Mark Robinson, and he will have to answer for him,” the Harris advisers wrote in the memo, emphasizing the strong connection between the two figures. The memo also pointed out that Trump has started to distance himself from Robinson as the scandal unfolds, but Harris’ team plans to use “reams of footage” showing the two Republicans embracing each other on the campaign trail.
Targeting Policy Extremism
The memo also outlines a strategy that focuses on Robinson’s extreme policy positions, which Harris’ campaign believes are out of step with persuadable voters in the state. Robinson has called for abortion restrictions, supported the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, and advocated for abolishing the federal Department of Education. These positions, along with his controversial statements on abortion, are central to the Harris team’s messaging.
While Trump has attempted to portray himself as more moderate on abortion, Harris’ team will focus on his opposition to a Florida ballot measure to expand access to the procedure, a stance that aligns him with Robinson’s hardline views. Robinson has been quoted saying that women seek abortions because they “weren’t responsible enough to keep [their] skirt down,” a statement Harris’ campaign has already featured in a new ad launched in North Carolina.
Shifting Dynamics in North Carolina
North Carolina has proven to be a challenging state for Democrats in recent presidential elections, with Barack Obama being the last Democratic candidate to win there in 2008. However, Harris’ campaign sees a fresh opportunity, particularly with Trump’s shrinking margin of victory in the 2020 election, where North Carolina was one of the narrowest wins for the former president.
Falmlen and McCrimmon noted in the memo that North Carolina is Harris’ “top pickup opportunity” this election cycle, and they believe Robinson’s scandal presents the perfect opening to sway undecided voters. The memo suggests that the Trump-Robinson connection could be a defining issue in the race, particularly as Republicans in the state have begun conceding that the governor’s race may be a lost cause.
A Core Focus on the Trump-Robinson Agenda
Harris’ campaign has already rolled out an ad targeting Robinson’s extreme rhetoric and his ties to Trump. The ad emphasizes Robinson’s comments on abortion and features clips of Trump praising the lieutenant governor, aiming to cement the perception of Robinson as a Trump loyalist.
“Defeating the Trump-Robinson agenda will remain a core piece of the Harris-Walz path to victory in North Carolina,” Falmlen and McCrimmon wrote. This focus on the Trump-Robinson partnership, along with a concerted effort to win over suburban and Black voters, is central to Harris’ strategy in the state.
Trump’s Rally in North Carolina
Donald Trump is scheduled to hold a rally in Wilmington, North Carolina, but Robinson is notably absent from the event’s lineup, according to sources familiar with the planning. While Trump has not officially rescinded his endorsement of Robinson, there is a growing distance between the two as the scandal unfolds. This separation may signal a weakening of support for Robinson among Trump’s base.
As Harris’ campaign pushes to gain ground in North Carolina, they will continue to hammer home the connection between Trump and Robinson, aiming to turn what has long been a Republican stronghold into a key victory for Democrats in the upcoming election.
Overview
With the Mark Robinson scandal giving Kamala Harris’ campaign a fresh opportunity to appeal to key voter demographics, North Carolina is set to become one of the most hotly contested battleground states in the 2024 election. By focusing on Robinson’s extreme policies and his ties to Trump, Harris’ team hopes to build momentum and flip the state back into Democratic hands for the first time in over a decade.
