CONCORD, N.H. (AP) – Ohio Gov. John Kasich has headed to New Hampshire, the first stop on a multi-state campaign swing after making his run for the GOP presidential nomination official.
The two-term governor and former congressman, announced his candidacy Tuesday at Ohio State University.
He then headed to New Hampshire, home of the first presidential primary, for a town hall meeting in Nashua. He’ll remain in the state for several days with town halls planned in Greenland and Center Harbor on Wednesday and two more in Wolfeboro and North Conway on Thursday.
He then heads to South Carolina, Iowa and Michigan.
The 16th candidate to enter the race starts out in the low single digits of national polls and surveys in key early voting states. But Kasich’s campaign team and several independent observers expect his stature to rise soon.
He needs to climb around half of a percentage point to qualify for the first Republican presidential debate Aug. 6 in Cleveland.
His home state of Ohio is a pivotal swing state in presidential elections.