Donald Trump Downplayed In Peoria, At State Republican Convention
PEORIA, Ill. (AP) - Illinois Republicans are calling for unity ahead of November's election, even as some top elected officials tiptoe around the name likely to be at the top of GOP ticket: Donald Trump.
The Illinois Republican Party is holding its state convention Saturday in Peoria.
Trump won Illinois' Republican presidential preference vote, and the overwhelming majority of the state's delegates to this summer's National Republican Convention support the billionaire businessman.
But Trump's controversial comments about women and minorities are cause for concern for some Republican candidates in Democrat-leaning Illinois.
GOP Sen. Mark Kirk, who's in a tough race with Democratic U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth, skipped Saturday's public meeting.
Gov. Bruce Rauner spoke for 20 minutes without mentioning Trump's name, though he told the crowd it's important Hillary Clinton not become president.
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