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WASHINGTON — Sen. Ben Sasse suggested Tuesday that he could eventually abandon the Republican Party if it embraces the politics of Donald Trump.

During an interview on MSNBC, the Nebraska senator said he wants the Republican Party to be “the party of Abraham Lincoln, limited government and great human potential.” He criticized Trump for a lack of conservative principles and for playing “race-baiting” games.

Trump refused during a national television interview Sunday to disavow David Duke, a former Ku Klux Klan grand wizard.

“I want to celebrate what’s great about America in the Republican Party,” Sasse said. “But if the Republican Party becomes the party of David Duke, Donald Trump — I’m out.”

His comments had some political observers wondering whether Sasse was poised to start his own political party.

But don’t mark him down as an independent just yet — even if Trump continues to be the GOP presidential front-runner.

In response to World-Herald inquiries, Sasse spokesman James Wegmann provided a statement indicating that a party switch isn’t imminent.