CANDIDATES

Their biggest policy differences resolved, Attorney General DeWine and Kasich complimented one another in a rally before more than 200 people at the Boat House at Confluence Park in Columbus, recalling good old days together in the Ohio Senate and U.S. House.

Each presented a case that economic and other progress made under Kasich since his first term in 2011 can only be continued under DeWine — not Democrat Richard Cordray.

Kasich largely outlined what has been done under his administration, some with the assistance of DeWine, and underlined his endorsement of his would-be successor.

“It’s about somebody who understands,” Kasich said. “We can never, ever go back to the way it was,” he said of the economy he inherited in the wake of the 2008 national recession and loss of 400,000 jobs — now all restored with another 170,000 on top.

In a “time of division and Gov. John Kasich, right, said of gubernatorial candidate Mike DeWine: “He understands conservative principles that government is the last resort, not a first resort.” Friday was the first time the two appeared together at a campaign event, which was also attended by DeWine’s wife, Fran, left. polarization,” Kasich, who continues to eye a possible presidential run in 2020, suggested DeWine is an “antidote,” adding, “He understands conservative principles that government is the last resort, not a first resort.”

DeWine accepted Kasich’s

blessing and thanked him. “The governor is absolutely right. We can’t go back. This election is really about whether we go forward or we go back.”

The governor brought up his expansion of Medicaid health care to nearly 700,000 adults, mostly

the working poor, while DeWine did not touch the topic. Kasich had balked at endorsing DeWine until his election-year conversion in which he said he would retain one of the governor’s prized accomplishments, with some changes.

DeWine again sought to place blame on former Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland, whom Kasich toppled in 2010, and thenAttorney General Cordray for the national recession’s impact on Ohio jobs and the state budget. The recession ravaged all states, and Cordray played no role in state economic policy.

In a questionable assertion, DeWine also said Cordray’s spending proposals would cost $4 billion a year and claimed they only could be covered with a tax increase, which Cordray has ruled out.

It has not been a staple of the DeWine campaign to play up his endorsement by Kasich. DeWine’s campaign cut two TV commercials featuring Kasich, but they were relegated to digital platforms rather than appearing on television.

On Monday, DeWine is expected to cross over from the Kasich side to the Trump team as the president appears at a midterm rally in Cleveland seen by some as a bid to help ensure the governor’s office remains in friendly Republican hands in 2020 as he seeks re-election.