COLUMBUS – For the next week, not two states are more important to Gov. John Kasich’s run yfor the White House than his hoime state and the one Up North.
Kasich is counting on a good showing in Michigan’s primary Tuesday to vault him into the top tier of candidates for the Republican presidential nomination and give him momentum in advance of Ohio’s March 15 primary.
A TV and digital campaign ad called “Rise” began airing Tuesday in Ohio, trumpeting his achievements as governor.
Campaigning in Michigan Monday, Kasich criticized Hillary Clinton for saying Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder should resign over the lead-contaminated water in Flint, Michigan.
Kasich says Clinton’s remarks in Sunday’s Democratic debate that Snyder should resign or be recalled are “the definition of gall.” He’s suggesting Clinton is hypocritical without offering specifics.
“Of all the people in the world to call on someone to resign,” Kasich says, adding, “we’ll get to that in the fall.”
Snyder is not endorsing anyone in Tuesday’s Michigan primary, but Kasich has defended the Republican governor’s response to the Flint water crisis on several occasions.
Kasich also says he shouldn’t have answered a question in last week’s debate about whether he’d support Donald Trump if he wins the GOP presidential nomination.
Pushed by a self-identified Democratic voter during an event in Michigan to retract his potential support for Trump, Kasich says he “shouldn’t have even answered the question” because he plans on “being the GOP nominee, not Donald Trump.”