Kasich Says He ‘Just Can’t’ Bring Himself To Vote For Trump Despite Pledge

Republican presidential candidate, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, speaks during an education summit, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2015, in Londonderry, N.H. (AP Photo/Jim Cole)
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) said that he has no plan to vote for Donald Trump in November, despite making a pledge to support the GOP nominee when he was running in the 2016 race.

Asked by MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough if he would stick to the pledge, Kasich called his decision not to “painful.”

“I’m sorry this has happened. We’ll see where it ends up. I’m not making a final decision yet but at this point I just can’t do it,” the Ohio governor said.

Kasich, the last Republican contender remaining in the race before Trump emerged as the presumptive nominee, has heavily criticized the billionaire businessman’s rhetoric and policy proposals.

“The divisiveness, the division, the name calling it just doesn’t go down well with me,” Kasich said last week, asking Trump to apologize to a federal judge for attacking his “Mexican” heritage.

Kasich told Scarborough that he was still open to supporting Trump if he moderated his anti-minority rhetoric and pivoted towards the general election, something Trump has proven incapable of doing so far. The real estate tycoon has spent the days since the worst mass shooting in U.S. history attacking Muslim-Americans and re-upping his call for a ban on Muslim immigration, which Kasich said was a dealbreaker.

“I know as governor of Ohio, with some people who pound on me, I said I’m not prepared to do it and he’s going to have to change,” Kasich said.

The Ohio Republican said he would campaign heavily on behalf of Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) and “do everything” possible to make sure the GOP holds on to the Senate and House of Representatives.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced Wednesday that he too would be withholding his vote for Trump.

Latest Livewire

Notable Replies

  1. Translation: I’d back him if he used code words and dog whistles like the rest of us here at the GOP have been doing for years.

  2. I’m waiting for the Cleveland tipping point when GOP officeholders desert Trump for Gary Johnson.

  3. Wasn’t he the Serious Adult One? Because he’s all “Ohoo Moi Gawd don’t even ask because I like literally can’t even right now…”

  4. Kasich told Scarborough that he was still open to supporting Trump if he moderated his anti-minority rhetoric and pivoted towards the general election, something Trump has proven incapable of doing so far.

    So, a lot more lipstick on the pig and Kasich can be flipped.
  5. And since that lipstick will NOT be forthcoming - because Rump,- Kasich’s support will not be forthcoming.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

35 more replies

Participants

Avatar for system1 Avatar for david_e_brown Avatar for josephebacon Avatar for daveminnj Avatar for silas1898 Avatar for brooklyndweller Avatar for mattinpa Avatar for clunkertruck Avatar for nowarino Avatar for fargo116 Avatar for steviedee111 Avatar for deewus Avatar for daveyjones64 Avatar for arc_of_the_universe Avatar for tao Avatar for azjude Avatar for jm_tpm Avatar for emilianoelmexicano Avatar for chicago11 Avatar for clauscph Avatar for lightningrod Avatar for spencersmom Avatar for edhedh Avatar for khyber900

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: