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Can a wealthy no-name topple the bigoted front-runner in GOP primary to lead North Carolina? [1]

['Daily Kos Staff']

Date: 2023-10-18  

Wealthy attorney Bill Graham announced on Wednesday that he'd compete in the March Republican primary for governor of North Carolina, adding that he'd pour at least $5 million into his quest to succeed termed-out Democratic incumbent Roy Cooper. Graham’s entry sets up a showdown with Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who's spent the year as the favorite to claim the nomination, but the conservative site The Dispatch writes that Graham has the support from unnamed national "donors and political operatives" who believe the far-right front-runner could cost Republicans the general election.

The lieutenant governor's many detractors have highlighted his past antisemitic, Islamophobic, misogynistic, homophobic, and transphobic screeds, as well as his ardent opposition to reproductive rights. Even more material surfaced in August when the Huffington Post uncovered Robinson’s rambling posts about conspiracy theories that included a 2017 Facebook message in which he wrote, "I don't believe the Moon Landing was faked and I don't believe 9/11 was an 'inside job' but if I found both were true… I wouldn't be surprised."

However, GOP primary voters so far have tuned out appeals from alternative candidates, like state Treasurer Dale Folwell and former Rep. Mark Walker, who've presented themselves as safer options. A recent survey from the Republican firm Cygnal for the conservative John Locke Foundation showed Robinson demolishing Folwell 49-5—the latest in a string of polls that have found him crushing his opposition. Donald Trump has also made it clear that Robinson is his guy.

While national Republicans who want to stop Trump from again serving as their presidential nominee are still flailing about for a savior, Graham is hoping his wealth will help him fill that role for Robinson skeptics. However, Graham may have his own doubters to persuade: His only previous bid for office was a 2008 campaign for governor in which he took a distant third place in the primary, with just 9%. The new contender will also begin with little name recognition almost 16 years after that race, though he's already said he'll begin a TV ad campaign next week to reintroduce himself.

Graham did not mention the lieutenant governor in his announcement but instead pitched himself as the strongest candidate to beat the Democratic front-runner, state Attorney General Josh Stein. Still, Graham not-so-subtly argued that Robinson would be a weak option. "Only four of the last thirty years have been led by a Republican governor in North Carolina; we keep losing to the liberals," he said in a statement. "If we want to change that, we need a nominee who will have the resources, discipline, and character needed to defeat the far-left Josh Stein in November."

But while Robinson's intraparty enemies are hoping that Graham will be able to emerge as a strong alternative, the front-runner would likely benefit from a crowded field of opponents. North Carolina allows for a primary runoff only if no candidate takes more than 30% of the vote, and the runner-up must also formally request one.

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/10/18/2200212/-Can-a-wealthy-no-name-topple-the-bigoted-front-runner-in-GOP-primary-to-lead-North-Carolina?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=more_recent_news&pm_medium=web

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