Republican candidates for local offices are struggling with how to respond to their party's presidential candidate's treatment of women.
Many office holders on the national level have withdrawn their support for Donald J. Trump after he was caught on tape boasting of using his celebrity status to grope and kiss young women.
Trump, whose third wife was pregnant with his youngest son at the time he made the remarks, also used vulgar language to describe the female anatomy.
David Selzer, Republican candidate for the McLean County Board, said he is more focused on local issues and on the Republican Party platform than he is on the man heading his party's ticket.
Still, Selzer said, "I support the Republican nominee because I think the platform the Republican Party brings to bear is the best for this district."
Selzer added, "I'm not going to run from the platform of the party because of some lewd remarks (though) I don't condone it."
Selzer currently represents District 5 on the county board which includes north and east Normal. He faces Democratic challenger Kimberly Pfeifer in the November election.
State Rep. Dan Brady, who is running unopposed for reelection, once supported Trump, but now says he isn't sure he can back the Republican standard bearer.
"The most recent comments that have come out from Mr. Trump, even though he's admitted them and (issued) an apology, gives me pause and causes me to look at other candidates, though it certainly won't be Hilary Clinton," Brady said, referring to Trump's Democratic opponent, Hilary Clinton.
Other local Republican candidates said they either did not want to comment on Trump publicly, or failed to return phone calls seeking comment.
"I was elected and am seeking election to do a job, there are specific responsibilities that the job has, and none of them involve advocating for another elected or possible elected official to win an election," said State's Attorney Jason Chambers, who is running unopposed for re-election.
Congressman Rodney Davis, who represents parts of Bloomington-Normal and is seeking reelection, withdrew his support for Trump over the weekend.
However, Congressman Darin LaHood says he is sticking with the Republican nominee. LaHood also represents parts of McLean County.
State Rep. Bill Mitchell, who represents a part of McLean County, also said he continues to support Trump.
State Sen. Bill Brady declined repeated requests for comment.
While Trump has made numerous derogatory comments about women in the course of his campaign, the furor reached a boiling point over the weekend after a 2005 audio tape from the NBC-TV program "Access Hollywood" became public.
Nearly 27 million women responded by posting on Twitter their personal experiences of sexual harassment in the wake of Trump's remarks, seeking to call attention to the problem.
Trump has dismissed the comments as "locker room" boasting and said they don't reflect actions he took. He apologized to his family and the nation in Sunday's Town Hall debate with Clinton.