Ohio Governor John Kasich (R) suspended his campaign for president during a speech in Columbus, Ohio on Wednesday, a move that leaves Donald Trump essentially unopposed for the Republican nomination.
Kasich began by thanking his family, staff, and supporters. After discussing his experiences campaigning and the people he met on the trail, Kasich said he learned that “we all need to slow down our lives, slow down our lives and listen to those who are around us. Look, let me be clear, we all know that economic growth is imperative to the success of our country. Economic growth gives people an opportunity to realize many of their hopes and dreams in life. And without a job, the family’s weaker, the community’s weaker, the neighborhood’s weaker, the state suffers, and our country struggles.” And that economic growth can be achieved, if political leaders ignore polls and do their jobs.
After discussing economic growth, Kasich stated that “[T]he spirit, the essence of America, lies in the hearts and souls of us. You see, some missed this message. It wasn’t sexy. It wasn’t a great soundbite. … I believe we all need to live a life bigger than ourselves. Yes, we need to live a life a little bit bigger than ourselves. We need to reach out to help someone else, because, you know what? It comes to us naturally if we let it. You see, we are, as human beings, kind of hardwired to want to give someone else a lift, give someone else an opportunity. And when we reach out, it’s so interesting — and when we reach out and help someone else, you see what it does is it opens us, ourselves, to recognizing and receiving the help that we need in our lives. It’s a virtuous circle, when help someone else to rise, it opens us up to receive the things that we need in our lives, regardless of who we are.”
Kasich concluded, “I have always said that the Lord has a purpose for me, as he has for everyone. And as I suspend my campaign today, I have renewed faith, deeper faith, that the Lord will show me the way forward, and fulfill the purpose of my life.”
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