ohio Gov. John Kasich, who tried to position himself as the adult in the room of presidential contenders, will drop out Wednesday afternoon, according to a senior advisor, becoming the final casualty in Donald Trump’s takeover of the Republican Party.
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| John Kasich to end his campaign, leaving Donald Trump as sole Republican in race. (Matt Slocum / Associated Press) |
But Kasich’s exit eliminates the 16th and final hurdle to Trump’s coronation as the party’s new standard-bearer.
Kasich’s chances of gaining the nomination never really materialized. Many politicos had joked that he was the only candidate who had managed to come in fourth in a two-man race. Trump, Cruz and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio – who dropped out more than six weeks ago – all have more delegates than Kasich. His only primary victory came in his home state of Ohio.
Still, Kasich has long been convinced, despite the electoral math, that he could win, if only voters would take the time to get to know him. He emphasized his broad experience as both the governor of a swing state and an influential member of Congress who crossed party lines during the Bill Clinton administration to forge a balanced budget deal.
Kasich’s campaign events were generally intimate affairs. He liked town halls where he could talk to small groups of voters about policy and finding meaning in their lives, and occasionally give them hugs. It was a contrast to Kasich’s prior reputation as a prickly politician, but an even bigger contrast to Trump's rowdy rallies in large arenas.
Many inside the rooms came away moved and impressed, but there were not enough of them to make much of a dent in Trump’s campaign. Exit polls showed Republican voters valued outsiders who could take on Washington over establishment figures like Kasich who had worked the inside game.
It was only in the final days of the campaign that Kasich attempted to halt Trump's path to the nomination, agreeing to a last-ditch pact with Cruz to divide their assets among a few remaining states.
The candidates both believed that if they could deny Trump from getting a majority of the party's delegates, they could win the nomination at a contested convention this summer. Now, however, there is little doubt that Trump will claim the party's nomination.
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Kasich's cheerful campaign style made him few enemies on the campaign trail. But Democrats in his home state feasted, accusing him of "pursuing his presidential ambitions and ignoring the needs of the people of Ohio" and demanding that his campaign tally its cost to state taxpayers so they could be reimbursed.
Times staff writer Seema Mehta in Los Angeles contributed to this report.
Kasich's cheerful campaign style made him few enemies on the campaign trail. But Democrats in his home state feasted, accusing him of "pursuing his presidential ambitions and ignoring the needs of the people of Ohio" and demanding that his campaign tally its cost to state taxpayers so they could be reimbursed.
Times staff writer Seema Mehta in Los Angeles contributed to this report.