GOP strategist: Mark Robinson staff defections don’t matter 'because campaign was already over'

GOP strategists became even more worried about North Carolina gubernatorial nominee Mark Robinson's embattled campaign when CNN reported on his activities on an adult website from 2008-2012. In addition to posting sexually explicit comments on a site called Nude Africa, according to CNN, Robinson posted, "I'm a Black Nazi" and argued in favor of reinstating slavery in the United States.

Some North Carolina Republicans were hoping that Robinson would drop out of the race, but it's too late for that — as the deadline has passed.

On Sunday, September 22, Politico reported that four Robinson staffers had resigned from the campaign — including campaign manager Chris Rodriguez, deputy campaign manager Jason Rizk, senior adviser Conrad Pogorzelski III and finance director Heather Whillier.

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In an official statement, Robinson said of their departures, "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."

Pogorzelski confirmed those four departures to Axios, noting three more resignations from the campaign: political directors John Kontoulas and Jackson Lohrer, and director of operations Patrick Riley.

According to Axios reporters Rebecca Falconer and Lucille Sherman, there were a total of seven resignations from Robinson's campaign as of Monday morning, September 23.

But when Axios discussed those resignations with GOP strategist Doug Heye, he said the staffing overhaul "doesn't matter because the campaign was already over."

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"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," Falconer and Sherman report, adding that Robinson was absent from a Donald Trump rally in North Carolina on September 21.

Heye told Axios, "Hurting somebody up ballot is very rare" but added that the possibility of Robinson hurting Trump's chances of winning North Carolina "is real."

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