North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson has received a formal endorsement from former President Donald Trump, months after he pledged to run for governor.
RALEIGH, N.C. — Former President Donald Trump on Saturday endorsed North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson as his gubernatorial candidate, months after he pledged to do so.
At a rally at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex, the former president also compared Robinson, who is Black, to famous civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He called Robinson “Martin Luther King on steroids.”
President Trump compared Robinson to the legendary civil rights leader, saying, “I think you're better than Martin Luther King Jr.; I think you're better than Dr. King. I think you're better than Dr. King. I think you're better than Dr. King. I think you're better than Dr. Martin Luther King. I think you're better than Martin Luther King, Jr. I think you're better than Martin Luther King, Jr. I think you're better than Martin Luther King, Jr. I think you're better than Martin Luther King, Jr. I think you're better than Dr. Martin Luther King. I think you're better than Dr. Martin Luther King.'' You're twice as good as Martin Luther King. think. ”
“You're going to love it,” Trump said.
Trump named Robinson among several candidates people should vote for in Tuesday's North Carolina Republican primary, saying, “They have my full and complete support.” Ambassador Nikki Haley is a mathematician running for the Republican nomination.
Despite a lack of formal endorsement, Robinson's support from the former president, combined with his strong fundraising and popularity among the Republican base, made him the front-runner for the Republican gubernatorial nomination.
Mr. Robinson's main rivals, state Treasurer Dale Falwell and trial attorney Bill Graham, have said that Mr. Robinson is likely to win the November general election, especially given his harsh comments on LGBTQ+ rights and other issues. I have doubts about my ability to win.
President Trump praised Robinson, who also spoke at Saturday's rally, as an “incredible gentleman” and “a great, gifted speaker.” President Trump slightly inaccurately described how Robinson rose to fame after his 2018 Greensboro City Council speech in support of gun rights and police went viral. However, I reminisced.
This led to Robinson becoming a board member of the National Rifle Association, and in 2020, in his first run for public office, he was elected as the state's first Black lieutenant governor.
Robinson, a Greensboro native, said in a news release that he was “humbled” to receive Trump's endorsement, adding, “Trump will help us lead a united Republican front to victory in November and get our state and country back on track.” We look forward to working with them.” ”
Voters will also choose the Democratic gubernatorial candidate on Tuesday. The field also includes Attorney General Josh Stein and former state Supreme Court Associate Justice Mike Morgan. Term-limited Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper endorsed Stein several months ago.
State Democratic Party Chairman Anderson Clayton said the support was not surprising. North Carolina doesn't need a leader like Robinson who “prioritizes a job-killing culture war that will set our state back,” the news release added.
Statewide elections are typically close in the nation's ninth largest state.
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Associated Press writer Jill Colvin in New York contributed to this report.