By Eric Stock
CHICAGO – A Republican strategist said it’s not easy being a vocal critic of the party’s nominee for president.
Former Illinois GOP chairman Pat Brady has been saying for months Donald Trump is unelectable.
PODCAST: Listen to Scott’s interview with Brady on WJBC.
“One of the members of the national committee at the convention told me I need to quit being a Republican,” Brady said. “I didn’t know you could resign.”
Brady is encouraging Republicans to focus on down-ticket races, including the hotly-contested U.S. Senate battle between Republican incumbent Mark Kirk and Democratic U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth.
Brady told WJBC’s Scott Laughlin, Republicans who have been critical of Trump, including Kirk and U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Channahon, could get some blowback but are putting the country ahead of the party.
Brady said Kinzinger’s recent announcement that he likely won’t vote for anyone in the presidential race won’t hurt his political future, even if some in the party try to run him out of office.
“They can try, they are not going to beat him,” Brady said. “Adam is one of the best people we have in Congress he’s a smart guy. He’s a military guard. He’s a great public servant and I think people like and respect him.”
Brady tells WJBC’s Scott Laughlin he wouldn’t be surprised if the Bloomington native runs for higher office in a few years.
Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].