Local Republicans Distance Themselves From Trump's Clinton Comments

CHICAGO (CBS) – The Secret Service is reportedly speaking with representatives of Donald Trump's campaign, following the GOP presidential candidate's comments that some say were a veiled call for violence against Hillary Clinton.

That comes after a protester stormed the stage as Clinton appeared at a campaign event on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, it was another Trump controversy born from an unscripted comment to a group of gun supporters.

Trump told them that "Hillary wants to essentially abolish the Second Amendment.

"If she gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do folks. Although, the Second Amendment people, maybe there is? I don't know."

Was that Trump giving the green light for violence against Clinton?

The Trump camp said no.

But CNN reports, the Secret Service talked to the Trump campaign more than once about his remarks.

The agency yesterday tweeted:

At a Clinton rally Wednesday in Des Moines, Iowa, protesters rushed the stage before being caught and led out by security.

Clinton responded to Trump's comments: "Words matter, my friends. Yesterday, we witnessed the latest in a long line of casual comments from Donald Trump that crossed the line."

Trump's comments had top Illinois Republicans, who are facing tough races for re-election, running the other way.

"Obviously that's asking people to incite violence," said U.S. Rep. Robert Dold. "Obviously, it is something that's really dangerous and can't be tolerated."

And this from U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk: "When you're running for president, you have to be very careful about what you say. He's not careful enough. We've all seen these gaffes that make him not prepared for the big job."

Neither Dold nor Kirk are supporting Trump.

Mayor Emanuel, a strong Clinton backer, said Trump's simply not ready for the White House.

"The interesting thing is, not only foreign policy experts, more and more Republicans are coming to the same conclusion," he said.

The Trump campaign insists, the nominee was alluding to the power of the gun lobby to organize, not to carry out violence.

However, many Republicans see it as another self-inflicted wound by Trump, that takes the news cycle spotlight off Clinton and shines it directly on him.