As the Wisconsin presidential primary approaches, Gov. John Kasich, R-Ohio, made one more stop on his campaign trail Saturday at a local bar in Madison.
More than 100 supporters packed into the Coliseum Bar on Olin Avenue to have a beer with the presidential candidate.
"Where's my Spotted Cow?" John Kasich says at event to have a beer with 2016 presidential candidate. @BadgerHerald pic.twitter.com/SQiqD07k7u
— Emily Hamer (@ehamer7) April 2, 2016
Kasich encouraged Republican voters to support him so he can defeat the Democratic presidential nominee.
“We can in fact come together and we can defeat these barbarians,” Kasich said.
Pointing to his strengths, Kasich said he is the only Republican candidate who consistently wins against Hillary Clinton.
Compared to the other candidates, Kasich said he has balanced more budgets, cut more taxes and shrunk more government while serving as Ohio’s governor — making him the better option. He said he has “the tools” to fix the country.
“Look gang, I’m going to do the best I can to pull the country together,” he said.
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Kasich also hinted at the possibility of a brokered convention, also sometimes referred to as an open convention, for the upcoming Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio.
When a brokered convention almost happened in 1976, Kasich said he was there in the excitement. He said he joined former California Gov. Ronald Reagan while Reagan made campaign pitches to delegates from five different states. He said the convention this year is “going to be so much fun.“
Kasich said the Republican convention will draw the attention of young voters and teach them how government works.
“They’re going to pay less attention to Bieber and more attention to how we pick a president,” Kasich said.
But Kasich made sure to clarify he still likes Justin Bieber, and even wanted the song “Sorry” added to his campaign list.
Kasich reveals he loves “The Biebs — Justin Bieber for you old folks. By the way, I love his new song.” Asks staff to add to camp playlist.
— Philip Rucker (@PhilipRucker) April 2, 2016
Kasich continued to lighten the mood by bringing up a sore topic for Badger fans everywhere — Ohio State University.
If Wisconsin supports him, Kasich promised the Buckeyes will go easier on the Badgers the next time they come to Camp Randall, referring to the shutout game last season.
“I can promise you, if we can do well here, the next time Ohio State comes up here, we’ll give you more of a chance,” Kasich said, garnering laughs from the audience.
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After days of campaigning in Wisconsin, Kasich said he was headed back home to see his family once he left the bar.
While Kasich said he was tough on his fellow Republican candidates the past couple of days, he said in the future he wants to “offer hope” to the nation.
Instead of divisiveness, Kasich said if he becomes president he wants to focus on bringing people together.
“I’ll do my job in Washington and I can promise you this, it will not be some extreme agenda where we will repel people who don’t think the way we do,” Kasich said. “It will be a conservative government, but it will be one that will be inclusive.”
