Kasich campaign: Indiana results won’t alter our plans

John Kasich’s presidential campaign announced Tuesday evening that the Ohio governor has no intention of dropping out of the race for the Republican nomination despite the increasing likelihood that front-runner Donald Trump will secure the nomination before the party’s summer convention.

{mosads}“Tonight’s results are not going to alter Gov. Kasich’s campaign plans,” Kasich’s chief strategist, John Weaver, said in a statement.

“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.”

In a second statement, after Sen. Ted Cruz dropped out of the race, Weaver added more. 

“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. 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.”

Trump won the Indiana primary easily Tuesday night, guaranteeing him at least 30 of the state’s 57 delegates and putting him within reach of the 1,237 delegates needed to secure the nomination.

The Ohio governor and Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas) had reached an agreement recently that Kasich would cede Indiana to Cruz as a last-ditch effort to block Trump from amassing delegates.

Updated at 9:59 p.m.