North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein, a Democrat, holds an 11-point lead over Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, a Republican, in the state's gubernatorial race, according to a poll conducted after a report emerged about Robinson's past remarks, The Hill reported.
The Marist poll, conducted from Sept. 19-24, reveals Stein has 54% support compared to Robinson's 43%, indicating a shift in voter sentiment since March, when Robinson had 5% more backing.
The survey followed a Sept. 19 CNN report on comments Robinson made on a pornographic website's message board more than a decade ago, in which he referred to himself as a "black NAZI" and other inflammatory terms. Robinson has denied the claims.
The North Carolina Republican Party issued a statement supporting Robinson, but several GOP leaders, including some governors who had previously endorsed him, appear to be distancing themselves.
The poll indicates that Stein's supporters are more firmly committed than Robinson's. Eighty percent of respondents with a candidate preference expressed strong support for their chosen candidate, but Stein's backers showed higher levels of commitment.
Before the CNN report was released, there was widespread speculation about whether Robinson might withdraw from the race, especially as it came just one day before the state began mailing out ballots. However, Robinson, who has received backing from former President Donald Trump, announced his decision to remain in the race.
According to the Hill/Decision Desk HQ polling aggregate, Stein holds an 11-point advantage over Robinson. The Marist survey, conducted among 1,605 North Carolina voters, has a margin of error of 3.4 percentage points.
Jim Thomas ✉
Jim Thomas is a writer based in Indiana. He holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science, a law degree from U.I.C. Law School, and has practiced law for more than 20 years.
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