Kasich Cancels Events, Reportedly Will Suspend Campaign

Bridget Johnson | 9:02 AM on May 04, 2016

*Ohio Gov. John Kasich speaks at a rally in Traverse City, Mich., on March 5, 2016. (AP Photo/John L. Russell)*

Not 24 hours after announcing that he was staying in the GOP presidential race, Ohio Gov. John Kasich canceled a morning press gaggle in Virginia and scheduled an early evening announcement in his home state.

Kasich had been scheduled to talk with media at Dulles International Airport outside D.C. to precede “a full day of finance events in Maryland and Virginia,” his campaign said Wednesday.

He was then supposed to spend Thursday with his national security team at the University Club in Washington.

Kasich’s team announced moments ago that, instead, the governor will deliver a statement at 5 p.m. EST in Columbus.

Before Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) dropped out last night, and with the governor registering in single digits in Indiana with a quarter of the votes counted, chief strategist John Weaver wrote in an email to supporters that “tonight’s results are not going to alter Gov. Kasich’s campaign plans.”

“Our strategy has been and continues to be one that involves winning the nomination at an open convention. The comments from Trump, on the verge of winning in Indiana, heighten the differences between Governor Kasich and his positive, inclusive approach and the disrespectful ramblings from Donald Trump,” Weaver wrote.

“Prior to tonight’s primary, the Kasich campaign had already secured a large plurality of Indiana delegates committed to Governor Kasich at a multi-ballot convention as part of the pre-primary delegate selection process,” he added.

After Cruz exited the race and Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus tweeted that Trump is the presumptive nominee, Weaver issued a statement noting that “our party is facing a clear choice between positive solutions that can win in November and a darker path that will solve nothing and lead to Hillary Clinton in the White House, a Democrat Senate and a liberal Supreme Court.”

“As long as it remains possible, Governor Kasich will fight for the higher path,” Weaver said. “Ted Cruz ran a strong campaign, stood for conservative principles and exposed a lot about Donald Trump. Governor Kasich will continue to campaign and offer the voters a clear choice for our country.”

However, a senior campaign adviser told NBC’s Andrea Mitchell this morning that Kasich will suspend his campaign.

Kasich’s camp launched a Star Wars-themed ad this morning painting his candidacy as “our only hope.”