Kasich: GOP Candidate In Ohio Said ‘I Didn’t’ Invite Trump To Hold Rally In State

Republican congressional candidate Troy Balderson (L) speaks next to US President Donald Trump during a rally at Olentangy Orange High School in Lewis Center, Ohio, on August 4, 2018. (Photo by MANDEL NGAN / AFP) ... Republican congressional candidate Troy Balderson (L) speaks next to US President Donald Trump during a rally at Olentangy Orange High School in Lewis Center, Ohio, on August 4, 2018. (Photo by MANDEL NGAN / AFP) (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images) MORE LESS
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Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) said Sunday that Republican congressional candidate Troy Balderson had claimed he didn’t have anything to do with inviting President Donald Trump to campaign on his behalf.

Kasich, one of a handful of nationally-known Republicans frequently critical of Trump, revealed the news on ABC’s “This Week.”

“I asked [Balderson] the other day, ‘Why are you bringing Trump in?’” Kasich recalled. “He said, ‘Well, I don’t have anything to do with it.’”

Host George Stephanopoulos returned to the point later: “Did he really tell you that he was surprised that President Trump was coming, and didn’t want him to come?”

“I asked him, I said, ‘Troy, why Did you invite Trump in here? The President?’ He said, ‘No, I didn’t,’” Kasich responded. “So I think Donald Trump decides where he wants to go, and I think they think they’re firing up the base.”

Balderson will face off against Democrat Danny O’Connor on Tuesday in a special election to fill the vacant seat of former Rep. Pat Tiberi (R-OH), who left Congress in January. The race is surprisingly close, given the usual Republican advantage in the district. Both Kasich and Trump have endorsed Balderson. 

Trump and Balderson headlined a rally in Ohio Saturday night, and Trump has promoted Balderson mutliple times on his Twitter page.

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Notable Replies

  1. Memo to JKasich:

    Go stuff another sausage sandwich down your throat and STFU.

  2. Loose Cannon Alert!

    (But, you knew that.)

    One could almost pity the Republican Party.

    Almost.

  3. Why is Kasich on ABC talking about this today ?

  4. Repugnicans want it both ways:

    ‘If you love Tramp, see, we brought Tramp;
    Can’t stand Tramp, well, WE didn’t invite the guy’.

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