WASHINGTON — Donald Trump’s march to the GOP nomination has ꦇsome exasperated Republicans vowing to quit the party, vote for Hillary Clinton, or cast a protest vote.
“I signed up for the party of [former President] Abraham Lincoln, not the party oꩲf David Duke, Donald Trump,” Republica🔯n Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska told MSNBC Tuesday.
“I hope it happens over the course of the next 30 to 60 days that the Republican Party again becomes the party of Abraham Lincoln, limited government and great hu🍒man potential. I want to celebrate what’s great about America in the Republican Party, but if the Republican Party becomes the party of David Duke [and] Donald Trump, I’m o⛎ut,” he vowed.
But Sasse is not among the Rep🍌ubl🔯icans threatening to bolt to Hillary Clinton.
“My current answer for who I would support in a hypothetical matchup between Mr. Trump and Mrs. Clinton is: Neither of them,” he posted on Facebook.
Sasse’s comments came as House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) went after Trump — though not by name — for 🐽failing to disavow David Duke and the Ku Klux Klan during a TV interview Sunday after former KKK Grand Wizard Duke said he supported Trump𒆙.
“When I see something that runs counter♋ to who we are as a party and a country, I will speak up,” Ryan to🌌ld reporters.
“If a person wants to be the nominee of the Republican Party, there can be no evasion and no games. They must reject any ൲group or cause that is built on bigotry꧋.”
“Let me make it perfectly cl♉ear: Senate Republicans condemn David Duke, the KKK, and his racism,” added Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R൲-Ky.).
McConnell didn’t deny reports that he had told Senate Republicans in priva♉te they💜 would drop Trump like a “hot rock” when they run for re-election if he became the presidential nominee.
Still, Ryan and most national Republicans said they intend to support the ultimate GOP nomꩵinee.