The connotation is different due to the fact that it's unfair to be hateful to a race (since you can't change it). The reason racism is bad is because someone can't change the color of their skin.

You can change your religion. I am a former Christian myself (now agnostic) and I am a strong critic of Christianity, Islam, and other religions that promote barbaric activity (in strict followings). A religion is bound to be criticized as it is a belief system and a code. If anything can be deemed "sacred" then criticism can't exist (e.g. can a cannibal say that it's hateful to criticize them because their belief is sacred, the same way a Christian would?).

Also, "bigot" and "hateful" have very loose definitions that don't hold the same value as "racist". By the definition of "bigot" you can be called a Trumpophobe as you seem to be intolerant of his opinions.

Most people are bigots. Sanders is a bigot to billionaires, Clinton is a bigot to honesty. Most people aren't hateful, and Trump is taking it a bit to the extreme, I can agree to that. However, the basis for his beliefs aren't dumb or racist at all, he's just appealing to voters by being outlandish.

And with this election, I would like to point out that all of the candidates have their flaws.

Sanders has made claims that women like to fantasize about being raped by men.

Hillary silenced and threatened a potential rape victim.

Trump criticized brave war heroes who are captured in combat.

At the end of this, I'll say that I'm a centrist that doesn't support any particular candidate. I just really like fairness in politics. Only looking at the negative aspects of one candidate and refusing to accept the fact that all candidates have flaws is narrow-minded and generally stupid. I wish more people would just understand that it's not black and white in this election, and it never will be. It actually really reminds me of Tesla v Edison. Once the circlejerk begins, it can't stop.