with lester holt. >> good evening and welcome. scandal tonight rocking the governor's race in politically consequential north carolina. republican candidate and conservative firebrand mark robinson tonight facing calls to drop out of the race after a cnn report today linked robinson to a series of inflammatory online remarks, including, according to cnn, referring to himself as a black nazi, and writing in support of reinstating slavery. but robinson is strongly denying making the comments and says he is staying in the race. we have to warn you, much of the reporting in this story is graphic in nature. the cable network saying the remarks were posted on a porn website over a decade ago linked by a single user name. nbc news has not verified the authenticity of the posts. robinson calling the report tabloid trash as some republicans are speaking out against him. laura jarrett has the latest. >> reporter: tonight, republican candidate mark robinson vowing to stay in the race for...

lester? >> all right, keir simmons in beirut, thank you. >>> now to the race for the white house. the fight over key battleground states ramping up with vice president harris bringing extra star power on to the campaign trail. here is gabe gutierrez. >> reporter: tonight, vice president harris once again in the critical swing state of michigan, this time getting a celebrity boost from oprah winfrey at a live-streamed event. >> what we're hoping is going to be one great big giant voter rally. >> reporter: just weeks after the tv icon's high wattage endorsement at the democratic national conversation. >> let's all choose kamala harris. >> reporter: and with in-person early voting beginning in several states tomorrow, a new poll showing just how tight this race is. harris and former president trump tied at 47% nationally. and in the key state of pennsylvania, harris has a slim lead within the margin of error. meanwhile, the former president overnight looking to...