Huntersville, N.C. — A campaign event for North Carolina Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson sparked a protest outside the venue on Thursday.
Robinson spoke at a luncheon hosted by the Lake Norman Chamber at Northstone Country Club. Meanwhile, a group of protesters gathered just outside the property, holding signs and criticizing Robinson for his past remarks on various topics, including abortion and gender issues.
It’s about all the things he’s said that aren’t true and that he shouldn’t be deciding on, said Aurrita Payne from the group Unity in Community, one of about two dozen protesters.
Previously, the Lake Norman Chamber had also hosted Robinson’s opponent, Democratic gubernatorial candidate and current Attorney General Josh Stein.
During his speech, Robinson addressed the negative perceptions about him, saying, They say on TV that I’m a crazy guy with two heads who’s going to scream at everyone. That’s far from the truth.
Robinson is currently trailing in the polls, with a new survey from Cook Political Report and BSG showing Stein with a seven-point lead. Another analysis from The Hill also reported a six-point lead for Stein.
In his speech, Robinson discussed his plans to reform state agencies and improve the education system. He acknowledged that as an elected official, he represents 10 million people, many of whom may not agree with him, and said he must be mature enough to set aside his personal opinions.
Queen City News requested an interview with Robinson, but his campaign said it wasn’t possible on Thursday due to time constraints, though they might arrange one before the November election.