Maine Sen. Susan Collins Dismayed by Trump's Comments

Collins wrote a letter to the Washington Post on why she will not vote for Trump

U.S. Senator Susan Collins of Maine said she's been increasingly dismayed by Donald Trump's stream of cruel comments, but her concerns about him reached the tipping point when he criticized the Muslim parents who lost a son in Iraq.

"It indicated, along with the previous incidents, that he lacked the temperament, the judgment, and the self-restraint to heal the divisions in this country," Collins said.

After months of being silent on the Presidential race, Collins wrote a letter to the Washington Post Tuesday explaining why she will not be voting for Trump.

Collins said she expected to see a new Trump emerge after the primary, one who spoke more carefully, who refrained from gratuitous attacks and who did not make scapegoats of ethnic and religious minorities.

"Instead, I've come to the inescapable conclusion that there is no new Donald Trump. That he is incapable of change and growth. He is incapable of apologizing, of saying that he was wrong," Collins wrote.

The Senator's comments come as 50 Republican former National Security officials have written an open letter saying that Trump, "would be the most reckless President in American history" and that he would be dangerous and "lacks the character, values and experience" to be president.

None of this has swayed New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte.

"Here's what I'm concerned about, if I look at the Obama Clinton foreign policy, let's start with the withdrawal prematurely from Iraq that I opposed on the Armed Services Committee," Ayotte said.

Ayotte is now the only U.S. Senator from New England to support Trump who weighed in on Sen. Collins decision.

Again, I have great respect for Senator Collins. I'm focusing really on running for re-election," Ayotte said.

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