Donald Trump is returning to North Carolina to stump in the southern battleground state that both Democrats and Republicans are treating as increasingly critical to victory in November.

The Tar Heel State, where the GOP gubernatorial candidate is steeped in controversy, is a critical battleground in the presidential race.

The North Carolina Republican Party released a statement Thursday evening defending its gubernatorial nominee, Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, after an explosive report about him was released. “Mark Robinson has categorically denied the allegations made by CNN but that won’t stop the Left from trying to demonize him via personal attacks,