New ad targets North Carolina Republican Mark Robinson for anti-abortion comments that women don’t keep their ‘skirts down’

The ad, which is part of a seven-figure buy by Stein’s campaign, also shows Robinson appearing to say that if he were governor and had a “willing” state legislature, he would sign legislation banning abortion “for any reason.”

Robinson’s campaign argued that the ad took those comments out of context. At the 2023 interview Featured in the ad, Robinson went on to say that banning all abortions would not stop them from happening and that he would like to pass a “heartbeat” bill, which would ban abortions after approximately six weeks of pregnancy.

The commercial also shows Robinson saying, “For me there is no compromise on abortion. It makes no difference to me why or how that child ended up in that womb.”

Stein, who has been an outspoken supporter of abortion rights, promised to defend access to the procedure and women’s reproductive freedoms.

“In November, North Carolinians will face a difficult choice between a safer, stronger North Carolina with Josh Stein or Mark Robinson’s focus on depriving women of their reproductive freedoms and a divisive vision that will destroy jobs.” , Jeff Allen, Stein’s campaign manager, said in a statement. “Over the next five months, we’re prepared to make sure every North Carolinian knows what’s at stake in this race – and we’re just getting started.”

When asked about Stein’s attacks on Robinson’s positions on abortion, Mike Lonergan, Robinson’s campaign communications director, said Robinson is “pro-life” because of the “painful and difficult” experience he and his wife had when they decided to get an abortion in 1989. Robinson has since said the decision to have an abortion was “wrong.”

“He said that as governor he would sign a heartbeat bill with exceptions for rape, incest and when the mother’s life is in danger,” Lonergan said in a statement about Robinson. “Lieutenant. Governor Robinson also wants to make North Carolina a destination state for life by doing more to support women who choose life; how to improve our foster and adoption systems; and preserve access to in vitro fertilization.”

Lonergan also attacked President Joe Biden and the Democratic Party as a whole for their stances on abortion.

“Biden, Stein and the Democrats are recycling the same old playbook they used in 2022,” Lonergan said in the statement. “He failed then and he will fail now. North Carolina voters do not support the Biden-Stein taxpayer-funded late-term abortion-on-demand agenda. This is extreme and out of step with our state’s values.”

O second ad Stein’s campaign campaign Tuesday focuses on his work on the rape kit backlog and the fentanyl crisis as North Carolina’s attorney general.