Politics

John Kasich Scores New Hampshire Endorsement

Patrick Howley Political Reporter
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Republican presidential candidate John Kasich nabbed a key New Hampshire endorsement Monday while visiting the state for a candidate forum.

Kasich, Ohio’s governor, announced that he has the support of New Hampshire House Majority Leader Jack Flanagan.

Getting New Hampshire Republican legislators on board can be a major boost for a primary campaign — particularly a legislator who presides over the state’s GOP legislative caucus.

“The last time the federal government had a balanced budget was when John Kasich made it happen,” Flanagan said in a statement. “He hasn’t been in Washington since and it hasn’t happened since. We need his leadership in the White House because Washington won’t work for us until we get a leader who puts good policy before partisanship.”

Kasich, who served as U.S. House Budget Committee chairman during the Newt Gingrich Revolution and the point person on the 1997 balanced budget, put in a strong though not entirely flashy showing at the Voters First Forum in New Hampshire Monday night alongside thirteen other Republican candidates.

Kasich has more than 3 percent supporting in the most recent Monmouth University primary poll — a relatively optimistic starting point for the nationally unknown governor.

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