NC Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson treated for burns after incident at campaign event

North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, the Republican nominee for governor, was hospitalized Friday following an incident at a campaign event in Mount Airy, a spokesperson for the campaign said late Friday.

Robinson was treated at Northern Regional Hospital for second-degree burns, according to Robinson campaign spokesman Michael Lonergan. “He is in good spirits,” Lonergan said.

Lonergan didn’t immediately provide details about the nature of the incident. But in a video circulated on social media on Saturday, and shared by campaign staff, Robinson said he burned his hand on the tail pipe of a truck at the Mayberry Truck Show in Mount Airy.

"I was getting out of the truck, and several my fans and supporters were coming around the truck, and I was trying to get out without running into them, and doggone, if I didn't lay my hand on that tailpipe," Robinson told a small gathering while wearing what appeared to be a bandage on his left hand. "And I tell you what: If you ever got a steak or pork chop or some bacon you want to fry, find you a truck exhaust."

The truck show was the fourth of four campaign events the candidate was attending across the state on Friday. Earlier in the day, Robinson had attended an event with the Republican Party of Moore County; a meet-and-greet at a Golden Corral restaurant in Laurinburg; and an event at a Mexican restaurant in Rockingham.

Robinson was resumed some campaign events on Saturday as he tries to breathe new life into his campaign against Democrat Josh Stein.

Robinson trails Stein by 10 percentage points or more in several recent polls. A Meredith College poll released Friday indicated that Robinson has lost supporters following a CNN report last week about lewd, racist and pornographic comments that the network tied to Robinson.

CNN linked Robinson to posts on a website called Nude Africa. The comments praised Adolf Hitler, called for the reinstatement of slavery, and described explicit pornographic preferences. In one post, Robinson called himself “a Black Nazi,” CNN reported. The network tied Robinson to the account with his email address, profile picture and user name that matched ones he used on other sites. The comments were made before Robinson entered public office.

Robinson has denied allegations made in the report, calling them false even before any details became public. He has since been under pressure by some Republicans to offer evidence to support his denials. CNN hasn’t responded to WRAL’s requests for comment on the matter.

In recent days, the Republican nominee has pressed ahead with his campaign amid a wave of resignations in his campaign and state office that followed the CNN report. On Thursday, Robinson named a new chief of staff. On the campaign side, political consultant Matt Hurley was picked to replace Conrad Pogorzelski, who resigned as Robinson's senior advisor.

Visits with voters have become more important to the campaign — especially as he faces fallout from the CNN report. The Republican Governors Association has said it hasn’t funded more ads on Robinson’s behalf — notable since it had been thought to be putting more money into advertising than Robinson’s own campaign had.

Robinson told WRAL Friday, before the Mount Airy incident, that he plans to continue elevating issues that North Carolinians care about, such as immigration, crime, and drug overdoses.

“My campaign is full-speed ahead,” he said in a statement.