North Carolina has remained “stubbornly Republican”, said Greene. Barack Obama was the only Democrat to win the state in 44 years, and he only won it once, in 2008. But the state’s growing urban centres have tilted the political scales towards Democrats, who hope this is the year they can turn North Carolina blue.

Explosive posts by the Republican candidate for governor, Mark Robinson, are sending waves of anxiety through a state party that has long been tactical and disciplined.

MSNBC's Chris Hayes breaks down CNN's bombshell report on North Carolina gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson and explains how the GOP did this to themselves