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“We’re not taking any Trump questions”

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CNN’s senior political reporter Manu Raju inquired yesterday about Sen. Mark Kirk and Donald Trump as the presumptive Republican presidential nominee prepared to go to Washington.

Raju let everyone know via Twitter: “Mark Kirk, in a tough Senate race in Illinois, refuses to talk about Trump. ‘We’re not taking any Trump questions,’ aide says.”

Kirk may be trying to use the same tactic as Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner. When Rauner was asked the other day about Trump, the governor wouldn’t even mention his name.

Still, both Illinois Republicans have said they will support the nominee, though Rauner won’t be giving any formal endorsement.

* Meanwhile…

Congressman Bob Dold (R-10) has refused to support Trump, and is planning to write in a presidential candidate when he votes in November, according to Politico.

* And the mad, desperate scramble to find someone to take on a third party bid has already missed one important deadline, with Illinois’ coming up at the end of May…

Talk of a third-party run has been percolating for weeks, if not months — the volume of it directly correlated to the likelihood of a Trump victory — with the idea being that such a bid could deny both Trump and Hillary Clinton the 270 electoral college votes needed to win (a real long shot) and/or bring Republican voters disaffected by Trump’s candidacy out to the polls (more feasible). But it’s always been tempered by real-world restrictions.

The deadline to appear on the ballot in Texas passed just this Monday, meaning the Lone Star State’s 38 electoral votes are likely out of the picture, absent a successful lawsuit. In addition, between today and the end of June, at least three other states — Illinois, Indiana and North Carolina — have deadlines, accounting for an additional 34 electoral votes (North Carolina’s deadline being the soonest). After June, a third-party candidate would face more and more deadlines for appearing on the ballot — a task made more difficult due to the patchwork of complex rules and regulations concerning ballot access across the country.

* Related…

* Illinois Republicans On Trump — With Him Or Against Him?

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, May 11, 16 @ 11:30 am

Comments

‘We’re not taking any Trump questions.’

The Illinois GOP is blessed to have such leaders brimming with moral courage.

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Wednesday, May 11, 16 @ 11:55 am
–Talk of a third-party run has been percolating for weeks, if not months …–

Lot of talk, no action. That’s why it won’t happen.

That was a Bill Kristol hobby horse. This is the guy who urged McCain to pick Palin, ran Dan Quayle’s veep office and predicted the war in Iraq would be over in a few weeks after we dismantled the weapons of mass destruction.

Kristol’s third-party preference: Dick Cheney for president, Tom Cotton of Arkansas for veep.

Real heavy hitter, this guy.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, May 11, 16 @ 11:56 am
Only in the world of BigBrain can they think their endorsement of Trump did not occur.
It was likely CommandoMakeItUp was toast already, but this is icing.
Never thought of the “write scenario” but then we haven’t campaigned for jr hi class president in quite some time.
Any brain storms from the CarWashKing or is he still pushin’ his $5 million around the room?

Comment by Annonin' Wednesday, May 11, 16 @ 11:56 am
Cowards.

I understand they’re in a tough place, but sometimes there’s something much bigger at stake than your own career.

The GOP now with their heads in the sand and refusing to speak the truth about Trump, are taking an awful gamble with this country.

Comment by ZC Wednesday, May 11, 16 @ 11:57 am
seems a bit ironic that early on the GOP feared a third party run by Trump when he lost the repub nomination; they went after him for a committment to not water down the votes with such a bid….

Comment by Ghost Wednesday, May 11, 16 @ 12:07 pm
Pretty thin distinction between “support” and “endorse”.

Comment by JackD Wednesday, May 11, 16 @ 12:21 pm
Rauner and Kirk are just being careful — say something bad about Trump, and your family might get implicated in the JFK assassination.

Because the presumptive GOP nominee did that the other day…..

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, May 11, 16 @ 12:43 pm
So basically the GOP can be summed up by this:
“Trust us, were going to be strong on crime! Strong on national defense! Tough on immigration!”…what’s that? Comment on the GOP candidate for President….ummmmmm no, no hard questions at this time.

Comment by How Ironic Wednesday, May 11, 16 @ 12:52 pm
But is he taking any Rauner questions? /s

Comment by olddog Wednesday, May 11, 16 @ 1:01 pm
Cowards. What’s Trump going to do? Yell at you? He yells at everyone. It doesn’t mean anything.

Comment by Cheryl44 Wednesday, May 11, 16 @ 1:06 pm
The Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson is on the ballot in all 50 states. He will probably do better than normal in this climate.

Comment by Fusion Wednesday, May 11, 16 @ 1:11 pm
Cowards, indeed.

Support = endorse.

Comment by Northsider Wednesday, May 11, 16 @ 1:15 pm
Based on a Dem consultant saying that Duckworth isn’t the brightest candle in the menorah- we really need a third party faddists in our own senate race

Comment by Sue Wednesday, May 11, 16 @ 1:39 pm
Third party candidate. Sorry

Comment by Sue Wednesday, May 11, 16 @ 1:39 pm
===The Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson is on the ballot in all 50 states. He will probably do better than normal in this climate.===

And he should! In 2012, I couldn’t get people to even consider him a decent option, though. Republican (now Libertarian) that supports legal marijuana! No no no, we can’t do that. UHGG. Too bad I won’t be a’votin’ for him this time. Sorry Gary.

To the post, one way to ensure a media frenzy of questions about Donald Trump is to say that you won’t be taking Trump questions. Good luck with that.

Comment by Ducky LaMoore Wednesday, May 11, 16 @ 2:02 pm
If not for the shameful media blackout, voters would know that there are at least two other parties that have some good ideas- Greens & Libertarians. The problem is that both of these parties are against are $6-trillion and counting wars for fun-and-profit.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, May 11, 16 @ 2:46 pm
Just because many in the ILGOP are in a State of Denial does not means that these questions will go away.

There will be “coattails” this November. Just wishing a few more incumbents would have credible competition,

Comment by illini Wednesday, May 11, 16 @ 3:05 pm
I have more respect for the Republicans refusing to support or vote for Trump than those claiming they’ll support the GOP nominee, yet are afraid to speak his name. Cowards.

Comment by Wensicia Wednesday, May 11, 16 @ 4:01 pm
Rep. Kinzinger has said he will not support Trump. He may have a future in the State. That is if the Republican party survives this election.

Hillary was so beatable. Talk about snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

Comment by Last Bull Moose Wednesday, May 11, 16 @ 4:12 pm
Isn’t Trump suppose to meet the Republican leaders tomorrow in DC?

Comment by Mama Wednesday, May 11, 16 @ 5:21 pm
Republicans made the decision years ago to support so-called *free markets* (limited government), get rid of entitlements, cut taxes while wedding themselves to xtian evangelicals.

Trump smoked out the so-called *establishment* politicians. And broke this up.

Comment by Stanley Motss Wednesday, May 11, 16 @ 5:33 pm
I’d be fascinated to hear precisely what was wrong with my comment that kept it from being posted.

Comment by Jeff Trigg Wednesday, May 11, 16 @ 6:35 pm