Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump spoke in Wilmington Saturday. It's what he didn't say that stood out.
Trump didn't mention the state's Republican gubernatorial nominee, Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, in his first visit to North Carolina after CNN reported that Robinson made lewd and divisive comments on a pornographic website more than a decade ago.
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Trump has endorsed Robinson in the race, but has distanced himself in recent weeks as Robinson has lagged Democratic opponent Josh Stein in recent polls.
Trump walked on the stage at the Aero Center in Wilmington around 2:30 p.m., making good on a promise to return to the city after canceling a visit in April due to weather.
Robinson — who has been a regular warm-up speaker ahead of Trump — wasn't expected to be at the event, according to the Associated Press. Political observers had been watching for any comments from the former president about Robinson. Robinson was scheduled to hold a meet-and-greet at Fayetteville Motor Speedway on Saturday.
Trump spoke to the possibility of a third presidential debate, with reports swirling about Democratic nominee Kamala Harris agreeing with CNN to participate in a debate on Oct. 23. He didn't outright decline, but didn't express support for the idea with roughly six weeks left until Election Day.
"The problem with another debate is it’s just too late," Trump said. "Voting has already started.”
One debate was held on Sept. 10 and another on June 27, which featured Trump and President Joe Biden.
Trump gave shout outs to several North Carolina Republicans, including U.S. Sen. Ted Budd and U.S. Rep. Dan Bishop, who is running for state attorney general against Democratic U.S. Rep. Jeff Jackson. But he never mentioned Robinson in his hour-long address.
Bishop spoke to the crowd hours before Trump took the stage. Bishop also made no mention of Robinson, but he did refer to the CNN report on Robinson, suggesting Democrats were behind it.
“This week in North Carolina, Democrats suddenly abandoned their aversion to hack and dump, rolled out a meticulously timed and coordinated character assassination, and then moved immediately to smear by association,” Bishop said. “Their aim, they say, is to disgrace not just one but all Republican candidates.”
Tommy Mattocks, a spokesman for the North Carolina Democratic Party, denied the allegation that the party was behind the Robinson story.
A CNN spokesperson didn't respond to a request for comment.
Some Republicans have distanced themselves from Robinson since the CNN report came out Thursday. Robinson, who has denied allegations in the report, has enjoyed strong support from Trump’s most fervent supporters. But Robinson has struggled in his race for governor against Stein.
Fifty-one percent of likely November voters support Stein and 37% support Robinson, with 11% undecided, according to the WRAL News Poll of 676 likely voters, which was released this month. The gap has widened significantly since March, when the previous WRAL News Poll showed Stein with a 44%-to-42% lead over Robinson.
In the same poll, Trump trailed Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris by just three points. Political analysts and insiders have said Robinson’s lag in recent polls could hurt Trump’s odds of carrying the state in the presidential race.
Robinson’s campaign didn't respond to a request for comment.
Trump has referred to Robinson as "Martin Luther King on steroids" and been a vocal supporter of him at times. Following Thursday's explosive CNN report, the Trump campaign issued a statement that didn't mention Robinson and instead spoke generally about how North Carolina was key to the campaign's efforts.
On Wednesday, running mate JD Vance came to Raleigh's Union Station and talked about changing economic dynamics. Robinson wasn’t in attendance.
Asked Thursday whether Trump was still endorsing Robinson, the former president's campaign sent WRAL a statement that didn't mention Robinson.
"President Trump’s campaign is focused on winning the White House and saving this country," Karoline Leavitt, a Trump campaign spokeswoman. "North Carolina is a vital part of that plan. We are confident that as voters compare the Trump record of a strong economy, low inflation, a secure border, and safe streets, with the failures of Biden-Harris, then President Trump will win the Tar Heel State once again. We will not take our eye off the ball.”
North Carolina’s 16 electoral votes are considered crucial to winning the White House, and candidates from both major parties have paid special attention to this battleground state, which Trump won by less than 2% of the vote in 2020.
In recent months, Trump has spoken in Asheville, Charlotte and Asheboro as his campaign ramps up its focus on the state.
Trump led Harris in the state shortly after she took over the nomination from President Joe Biden, who dropped his campaign in July.
On Tuesday, Democratic vice-presidential nominee Tim Walz came to the Tar Heel state to speak in Asheville. Meanwhile, Vance is scheduled to return to North Carolina to talk in Charlotte on Monday.