NC Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson briefly hospitalized for second-degree burns

Life has been full of complications recently for North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson of late, a fact made clear by an incident that took place while he was on the campaign trail in his race for the governor's mansion on Friday.

Robinson was hospitalized after suffering second-degree burns during a visit to the Mayberry Truck Show and Parade in Mt. Airy, as ABC News noted, compounding the difficulties the Republican has faced since the emergence of potentially career-ending claims about allegedly offensive online behavior in the past.

Robinson injured

According to CNN Robinson on Saturday explained precisely how he managed to sustain burns on his hands at the truck show, details that were not initially made clear.

“I was getting out of the truck and several of my fans and supporters were coming around the truck. I was trying to get out without running into them and doggone if I didn't lay my hand on that tailpipe,” Robinson stated.

He added, “I am fine. It is just a minor second-degree burn, and it is just fine.”

Earlier, Mike Lonergan, communications chief for Robinson's campaign, issued a statement declaring his boss “in good spirits” and appreciative of the “outpouring of well wishes.”

Lonergan noted that Robinson would return to the campaign trail on Saturday, which he subsequently did.

Controversy persists

The burn injury was just the latest setback for Robinson's increasingly troubled campaign, which was beset recently by the aforementioned controversy regarding allegedly inflammatory online comments made years ago.

Robinson has been accused of writing offensive statements on the message board of a pornographic website more than a decade ago, with some of the content reportedly of a lewd and/or racially insensitive nature.

As a result of the claims, Robinson's campaign has already shed key staffers including a top consultant and senior advisor, finance advisor, campaign manager, and deputy campaign manager, making for an uphill battle for candidate already seen as trailing behind his Democratic Party opponent, Josh Stein.

Robinson has remained defiant, pledging to remain in the race and also to explore legal options against CNN for its role in publicizing what he says are false claims about him, as The Hill reports.

Asked whether he was prepared to demonstrate the falsity of the allegations, Robinson said, “We absolutely are. We are in talks right now, everything up to legal counsel to take CNN to task for what they have done to us,” but whether he will be able to salvage his reputation -- or a longshot win -- only time will tell.