Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Former Gov. Jim Edgar says his fellow Illinois Republicans are going nowhere as long as Donald Trump is around. Edgar says not only is Trump the wrong choice for president, he’s holding back the state GOP’s chances of really gaining ground.

“The key in Illinois for us to have a viable party again is for us somehow to somehow get the governorship,” said Edgar.

Reminded there was a Republican governor in Bruce Rauner from 2015 to 2019, Edgar said dismissively, “Well, yeah, but he blew it. I mean, he literally blew it. If he had not gotten off on that tangent and not do a budget, he could have gotten re-elected. On the social issues, he was a moderate, which you need to be.”

Edgar says he does not understand Trump’s appeal, comparing him to a “medicine man selling stuff back in the 1800’s.”

While Edgar says he is voting for Vice President Kamala Harris, “I’d say right now, if I had to bet, I’d bet (Trump would) win.”