Ohio Governor John Kasich talked strategy in Detroit before the GOP presidential debate there Thursday—though he hardly talked about Michigan at all.
Kasich did say Michigan is “important.” The state holds its primary next Tuesday, and Kasich has campaigned here through the week.
But Kasich said the way things are shaking out, the Republican presidential race is “all coming down to Florida and Ohio.”
When it comes to the latter, Kasich is confident. “As you all know, I don’t make predictions, but I’m going to make a prediction: I’m going to win Ohio,” he said.
But Kasich admitted that the best that any GOP contender who’s not Donald Trump can hope for is a “contested” party convention this summer.
Kasich believes the GOP is headed for that fate if he takes Ohio and all its 66 delegates.
But he noted it’s even more likely if Florida Senator Marco Rubio wins his home state, too.
“Let me just put it to you this way: I’m going to spend a lot of time in Ohio, and I’ll bet Mr. Rubio is going to spend a lot of time in Florida,” said Kasich.
Kasich was critical of front-runner Donald Trump, and what he deemed Trump’s empty rhetoric.
But he also warned fellow Republicans that “You don’t beat Trump by personal attacks.”
