Republican Senator Mark Kirk On Why He Can't Attend GOP Convention

REPORTER: Senator Kirk, I want to ask you a question about the convention because there's so much being said about, there's a dilemma for a lot of Republicans on whether to go or not to go. Speaker Ryan urging everyone, please show up. We want you all there, unite around whoever is the eventual nominee. Senator McCain said he's not going, you say that you're not going. Is there anything that would change your mind and why did you decide to do that?

KIRK: I've got to really do my hair that week. Make sure that my hair is just perfect.

REPORTER: Campaigning is the reason, right? You're going to be back here?

KIRK: I'll be back home in Illinois talking to the people of Illinois and running for reelection very much. Focusing on Illinois and its issues and not hanging out with those 16 jamoke's who are running for President.

REPORTER: Well there's one jamoke that I think everybody is particularly concerned about and if it were the other 15 I think other Republicans would be showing up. Is this really your absence there about Donald Trump?

KIRK: It's mainly just to focus on the issues at hand and make sure that everybody who is leaning every which way with the riverboat gamble that comes with the Trump candidacy and to make sure that I can focus on just Illinois, only Illinois, and completely my state only.

REPORTER: It's interesting because I know that the RNC has been talking about this and they're obviously in a sort of doomsday scenario here as they're trying to figure out how, if Donald Trump becomes the head of the ticket how they're going to help people like you, Senators who are in hotly contested races and Congressman who are in hotly contested races around the country have those seats remain Republican. Have you been coordinating in any way with the RNC about those type of things?

KIRK: I actually don't see what particular good the RNC adds to the equation.

Republican Senator Mark Kirk On Why He Can't Attend GOP Convention

WBBM 6/8/16

WBBM 6/7/16

WBEZ 6/8/16

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