Illinois GOP senator runs scared from Trump: He's 'too bigoted and racist' to be president

Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL) is in the race of his political career and Donald Trump's sinking poll numbers are making things tough on his 2016 reelection bid. Perhaps that is why Kirk denounced Trump so emphatically, Thursday, saying Trump is “too bigoted and racist" to be president.

In an interview with “Big” John Howell on Chicago's WLS-AM 890, Kirk was asked if he thinks Trump could be a solid commander in chief that understands threats like the Orlando shooting or if Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton would be a better president.

Kirk clarified he absolutely didn't support Clinton but doesn't like Trump either. "I think he’s too bigoted and racist for the Land of Lincoln.”

Kirk said that when he votes in November he intends to write-in former CIA Director David Petraeus, who was caught sending classified documents to his mistress.

“I think if he announced, he would just light up the political spectrum,” Kirk said.

Kirk is classified as the most likely Republican to lose his seat in November and currently his numbers are down in his race, while Clinton is beating Trump by 12 points in Illinois. Last week, Kirk announced he could no longer support the GOP presidential nominee after a week of controversial comments about a California judge.

Kirk said in a March 11 interview that if Trump was the nominee he would endorse Trump, but has tried to backtrack. In a statement, Kirk said Trump's previous comments about Hispanics, women and the disabled meant that he is not fit to be a leader. Trump's comments about Hispanics, women and the disabled occurred prior to Kirk's statement on March 11, however.