by Alan Rapport
\nThe New York Times<\/p>\n
Senator Ben Sasse, a Republican from Nebraska, continued to warn on Tuesday of the dire consequences his party faces if it nominates Donald J. Trump and vowed never to vote for him for president.<\/p>\n
A vocal opponent of Mr. Trump for months, the freshman senator said that he would find a new political party if the New York businessman becomes the standard-bearer for Republicans.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to celebrate what\u2019s great about America in the Republican Party, but if the Republican Party becomes the party of David Duke, Donald Trump, I\u2019m out,\u201d Mr. Sasse said on MSNBC\u2019s \u201cMorning Joe\u201d program on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Mr. Sasse\u2019s public resistance to Mr. Trump could give other Republicans in Congress cover to distance themselves from him if he wins the nomination. He said that a leadership vacuum in the party left it open to a hostile takeover.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s first recognize that the Republican Party is just a tool, as all political parties are,\u201d Mr. Sasse said, lamenting that Mr. Trump has expressed admiration for dictators in Russia, China and North Korea. \u201cAnd I signed up for the party of Abraham Lincoln, not the party of David Duke, Donald Trump.\u201d<\/p>\n