Kasich: Balderson didn’t call Trump to Ohio
‘It’s really kind of shocking because this (race) should be just a slam dunk and it’s not.’ John Kasich Ohio Governor
Ohio Gov. John Kasich said Republican congressional candidate Troy Balderson told him he did not invite President Donald Trump to campaign for him at a rousing rally Delaware County Saturday on the eve of Tuesday’s special election.
During an interview Sunday on ABC’s “This Week,” Kasich, who has feuded with Trump over issues such as tariffs, said when he asked Balderson last week why he asked Trump to campaign for him, Balderson replied, “No I didn’t.”
“I think Donald Trump decides where he wants to go,” Kasich said. “I think they think they are firing up the base.”
But Kasich warned that Trump’s appearance in Saturday may damage Balderson because “the chaos that seems to surround Donald Trump has unnerved a lot of people.”
“Suburban women in particular here are the ones that are really turned off,” Kasich said, adding “it’s really kind of shocking because this should be just a slam dunk and it’s not.”
Balderson’s aides were not available for comment. During Saturday’s rally, Balderson said it was “truly a humbling experience to be on stage with President Trump,” and pledged “to fight alongside him to continue this economic success.”
Kasich endorsed Balderson, a state senator from Zanesville, in a TV commercial last week. But he may have undercut that message Sunday by suggesting Balderson did not ask for Trump to campaign for him.
Kasich called O’Connor a “weak candidate” who lacks a compelling message, saying “Balderson should ... be able to win narrowly. But it really doesn’t bode well for the Republican Party because this ... shouldn’t even be contested.”
The winner of Tuesday’s special election fills the seat left vacant since January when Rep. Pat Tiberi, R-Genoa Twp., retired. They will face each other again in November for a full term.