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In First Broadcast Interview Since RNC, Kasich Talks Trump And His Vote This Fall

Karen Kasler
Gov. John Kasich suspended his presidential campaign in May.

In his first broadcast interview since skipping the Republican National Convention last month, Gov. John Kasich was speaking out again about Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.

After establishing that Kasich still hasn’t endorsed Trump on the CNN show “State of the Union”, host Jake Tapper tried to pin Kasich down on his vote this fall…after Kasich admitted he’d never voted for a Democrat for president. Tapper asked, "Is it possible that you will not vote for a Republican for president?”

Kasich replied, "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. This is very disturbing and alarming to me. I should not say -- it's not alarming. I wish that I could be fully enthusiastic. I can't be.  So, I don't know what is going to happen at the end.”

Kasich also says because Trump is divisive that he’ll have trouble winning Ohio, which has been won by every Republican who’s won the White House.

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It’s been a while since Gov. John Kasich has done a broadcast interview about his failed campaign for president and his thoughts on his party’s nominee Donald Trump. But he sat down to talk about reports that Donald Trump wanted him on the Republican ticket. On CNN’s “State of the Union with Jake Tapper”, Kasich was a bit cagey when Tapper asked about reports that Donald Trump Jr. called Kasich as a possible running mate for his father. "I never got a call. Apparently, my aides did," said Kasich.

Tapper asked if Donald Trump Jr. called one of Kasich's aides.  Kasich said, "That's what the reports are." Tapper pressed him: “But is that -- but, I mean, your aide said that that's accurate?” Kasich again responded: “That's what one of them has told me, yes.” And then he continued, "But I never got a call. And that's yesterday.”

But Kasich said he was never interested, and that he has the second best job in the country behind being president – governor of Ohio.

Kasich also blasted Trump for not initially supporting US House Speaker Paul Ryan and Arizona Sen. and former nominee John McCain. And he said he plans to campaign for McCain, as he also says he’ll work for other Republican candidates who’ve spoken out against Trump.

Contact Karen at 614-578-6375 or at kkasler@statehousenews.org.
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