Senate Republicans addressed the scandal surrounding North Carolina Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson, whose campaign has faced turmoil following the exposure of his X-rated and racist posts on a porn website. Sen. Thom Tillis refrained from disclosing his vote for Robinson in November, emphasizing his focus on supporting Donald Trump's campaign in North Carolina and down-ticket candidates instead.
Tillis stated, 'I won't be campaigning for Robinson. How I vote is less relevant than what I'm focused on.' While he believed the scandal wouldn't impact Trump's prospects in the state, he urged Robinson to address the allegations promptly, emphasizing the need to 'move on' if they are true.
Senate GOP Whip John Thune expressed unease over Robinson's inability to clarify the situation. On the other hand, Sen. Ted Budd affirmed his intention to vote for Robinson, citing loyalty to the Republican Party's platform despite finding the allegations 'very disturbing.'
However, Utah Republican Sen. Mitt Romney strongly criticized Robinson, calling for his withdrawal from the gubernatorial race. Romney condemned the scandal as 'outrageous, disgusting, vile,' and dismissed Robinson's attempts to deny involvement, demanding more substantial explanations.
