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Trump repeats call for Sanders to run as independent

by Jesse Byrnes - 05/05/16 3:52 PM ET

Presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump on Thursday reiterated his call for Democratic hopeful Bernie Sanders to run as an independent in the fall.

“Bernie Sanders has been treated terribly by the Democrats — both with delegates & otherwise. He should show them, & run as an Independent,” Trump tweeted.

{mosads}Trump sent a tweet last week with nearly identical phrasing. Sanders’s wife, Jane Sanders, quickly dismissed the suggestion, insisting her husband, a democratic socialist who calls himself an independent in the Senate, didn’t intend to play “spoiler.”

Trump is rehashing the call amid rumblings among Republicans that a third-party candidate should emerge on the right as an alternative to the real estate mogul in the fall.

Sen. Ben Sasse (Neb.) and some other Republicans have expressed support for an alternative candidate, though no likely figures have emerged.

Some elected GOP officials have resigned themselves to Trump as the nominee, and others have been left in a bind over what candidate they’ll support in November.

Meanwhile, Sanders insisted this week he’ll stay in the Democratic race “until the last vote is counted” despite rival Hillary Clinton being overwhelming likely to clinch the nomination.

Tags 2016 GOP primary 2016 presidential election Bernie Sanders Donald Trump Hillary Clinton