In the latest round of political jousting, North Carolina's gubernatorial race has taken a turn that might make Emily Post give a disapproving glance. Democratic candidate Josh Stein has aimed his campaign cannons squarely at his Republican opponent, Mark Robinson, over Robinson's rather retrograde stance on abortion. And by "retrograde," we mean somewhere between a 1950s public service announcement and a caveman's manual on respectful behavior.

Josh Stein's campaign pulled no punches when it launched a seven-figure ad buy, diving headfirst into the abortion debate that has North Carolina voters clinging to their seats. For those not keeping track at home, Robinson's 2019 Facebook Live stream featured him doling out sartorial advice that went something like, “Abortion is about killing the child because you weren’t responsible enough to keep your skirt down.” Ah, there we go, a seamless blend of reproductive rights debate and fashion policing.

The issue of abortion is paramount in North Carolina's gubernatorial contest. Robinson has been adamant: if he were governor, he would propose a bill outlawing abortion for any reason. Currently, North Carolina permits abortion only up to 12 weeks, with limited exceptions for rape, incest, or life-threatening emergencies. Regardless, Stein seems to relish making Robinson's "no compromise" stance a centerpiece in his political tableau.

Stein's campaign ads have poignantly shown Robinson’s earlier no-compromise rhetoric, though it should be noted that Robinson has softened his stance recently. Now, he’s leaning toward supporting limitations on abortion once a heartbeat is detected, allowing leeway for extreme situations. Nothing says "I'm evolving politically" like shifting from draconian measures to draconian measures with footnotes.

Stein, capitalizing on Robinson's "skirt" comment, has also rolled out a second advertisement that highlights his own sterling track record as attorney general in addressing the state's backlog of rape kits, because nothing says "tough on crime" like making sure sexual assault evidence doesn’t gather dust. Political fish-out-of-water moments abound when you have campaign managers making heartfelt statements about defending reproductive freedoms while opposing campaign directors critique these same stances as "extreme."

Robinson's campaign isn’t sitting idly by, either. Mike Lonergan, his communications director, explains that Robinson is "pro-life" based on personal experience with abortion. It does introduce a layer of complexity, though some might argue it’s akin to opposing seat belts because you once had a bad buckle experience.

Lonergan did not miss an opportunity to lambast President Joe Biden and the Democratic Party as well, suggesting that their abortion stance is extreme and out of step with North Carolina values. While Stein is depicted as the defender of reproductive rights, Lonergan insists that Robinson aims to support women opting for life by improving foster care and adoption systems and preserving access to IVF, a modern-day Renaissance man if you've ever seen one.

In a political landscape where words are weapons, the North Carolina gubernatorial race has proven to be a Shakespearean drama infused with reproductive policy, wardrobe advice, and a dash of personal history. As Stein’s ads flood the airwaves and Robinson attempts to stitch a more moderate public image, both candidates leave voters pondering one key question: Is skirt etiquette really the most pressing issue of our time? Either way, pass the popcorn. This gubernatorial campaign is shaping up to be a real page-turner.

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