To many, Trump is tougher than Kasich

For many Ohioans, it’s not that they dislike Gov. John Kasich — it’s just that they like Donald Trump more.

Or at least that was the sentiment of many supporters who attended Trump’s first campaign rally in the state on Monday.

The event, attended by roughly 14,000, according to the Secret Service, was held in the Greater Columbus Convention Center. Trump drew a substantially larger crowd than Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton did when she visited Columbus for a midday event in September.

Despite being from Kasich’s home state, many attendees said they would vote for Trump based on his tough policies on immigration, tax reform and other issues.

“I like Donald Trump ’cause he’s for the people; he speaks the truth,” said Sarah Daniels, a Trump supporter from Fremont, Ohio. “He is not here to cater to a certain group, he’s for everybody.”

Although doors didn’t open until 5 p.m., the line began forming about seven hours earlier. It grew to hundreds by the time the northernmost halls of the convention center were opened, with some traveling from as far away as Oklahoma and New York.

Richard Snowden says he was first in line.

“This is my ninth rally in 11 weeks, seven states,” Snowden, a Tennessee resident originally from western New York, said proudly before the event. “He (Trump) certainly has the aura of a leader, the man that should be our next president in these troubled times.”

Some attendees hailed from Westerville, near where Kasich lives, but support for the governor still wavered with some of them.

“I don’t have anything bad to say about Kasich; I just like what Trump’s bringing to the race this year,” said Ray Etheridge, one of those Trump supporters from Westerville.

Leading up to and during the rally, Kasich’s campaign tweeted several times with the message that Kasich is more honest and experienced than Trump.

However, many supporters cited Trump’s position as an outsider and his lack of political experience as advantages.

“(Kasich’s) been a career politician, he’s been a Washington insider, and he’s been part of an establishment of the Republican Party,” said Caleb Turner, a Trump supporter from West Virginia. “We want a person who will shake Washington up and will bring people together, and it’s only going to take an outsider who will bring people together.”

Other supporters cited Trump’s success as a businessman as a reason for their support.

“I’m not saying that John (Kasich) is not suited at all; what I’m saying is, I believe Trump … is more of an economic leader. Trump has proven himself to be one, with his wealth and assets and business leadership,” said Gary Larocca, a Trump supporter from Midland, Ohio, who originally lived near Kasich’s hometown of McKees Rocks, Pa.

Since the beginning of campaign season, Trump has led Kasich in national polls, but it was only a few months ago that he gained a lead over Kasich in his own state.

The most recent poll of Ohio Republicans, conducted in early October by Quinnipiac University, showed Trump to be most favored, at 23 percent. Ben Carson followed in second, with 18 percent, while Kasich came in at 13 percent.

Not everyone present was for Trump, though, as Kasich supporters were sprinkled throughout the crowd.

“I don’t think (Trump’s) going to carry Ohio. It’s too early. I think he’s kind of rude the way he talks about people,” said Columbus resident James Kronenberger.

He said he plans to vote for Kasich in 2016 but, like many other Kasich supporters in attendance, admitted “that could change.”

Dina Berliner is a fellow in the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism Statehouse News Bureau.