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Mississippi College Republicans Welcome Presidential Candidate John Kasich


Republican presidential candidate John Kasich speaks at Mississippi College on November 4. The Ohio governor also served in Congress.

Republican presidential candidate John Kasich hopes to utilize his decades of political experience to bring economic prosperity to the nation, reduce massive federal debts, and fight poverty.

Taking his presidential campaign to Mississippi College on Tuesday, Kasich brings a lengthy track record as Ohio governor and a former congressman. He helped balance the federal budget in Washington in the 1990s.

While his campaign is generating little enthusiasm in nationwide political polls compared to GOP heavyweights like Dr. Ben Carson, billionaire Donald Trump and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, Kasich believes that will change in the months ahead.

Kasich says his presidential campaign will fare well in early primary states like Iowa and New Hampshire.

“We will focus on the early states, and when I come back, we will have three times as many people,” Kasich told the crowd of primarily Mississippi College students, faculty and staff on November 4. “We think we are in pretty good shape.”

One day after Mississippi’s statewide elections, Kasich was invited to the Clinton campus by the Mississippi College Republicans. Introducing the 63-year-old Republican governor was Mississippi attorney Andy Taggart. The longtime MC alumni leader is heading the Kasich presidential campaign in the Magnolia State.

After his talk, students tossed questions on topics like tax reform, fighting poverty, and dealing with the growing threat of international terrorists like ISIS.

“It was really awesome having a presidential candidate at Mississippi College,” said MC business student Mary Elizabeth Stringer of Tylertown. “I’m still deciding” who to support, but she gave high marks to Kasich.

Millions of Americans have seen Kasich in action during lively GOP debate platforms in recent weeks and there are more to come. The 2016 presidential election is one year away.

Mississippi College freshman Mallory Moore, 18, of Morton isn’t pleased with all the fighting among the presidential contenders, whether Republicans or Democrats. “They should stick to the issues,” she said.

Still, the East Rankin Academy graduate is excited to be voting in her first presidential election next year.

Kasich told the story of how he met the president of Ohio State University as an 18-year-old freshman on the 45,000-student Columbus campus. Soon, he penned a letter to the White House that opened doors for the Ohio State freshman to meet privately with President Richard Nixon at the Oval Office. After serving in the Ohio legislature, Kasich was elected to a seat in Congress by age 30.

He’s enjoyed success in Washington and as governor of America’s 7th largest state. “The good Lord has given me blessings,” he told the audience at Baptist-affiliated Mississippi College. “Each and every one of you are made special.”

Kasich encouraged students and others to take their special talents to make the world a better place.

Some in the audience near Alumni Hall are on board with the Ohio governor. They include Mike Duggar, CEO and president of Methodist Children’s Homes in Jackson. “I’d rank Kasich No. 1 with the scope of his experience. It’s superior than the other candidates.”

Mississippi College SGA President Mary McRae of Tishomingo County says she’s impressed with the man who helped bring 347,000 jobs to Ohio in recent years. “I can relate to him,” she said. “But I want to see what the others have to say.”

If elected president, Kasich, the son of a mailman, says he brings strengths like working with leaders of both major political parties in Congress. He dislikes all the political bickering and ugly name calling that plays out on debate stages and in social media. “It is nonsense.”

Pleased with the Kasich visit, Mississippi College Republicans member James Tulp of Franklin Lakes, New Jersey says the group will invite other candidates to campus as the White House race unfolds.

During his MC appearance Kasich did a live interview via satellite with CNN’s Jake Tapper, then headed to Atlanta. After campaign stops in New Hampshire later this week, the GOP presidential candidate travels to New York City for an appearance on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert on CBS this Friday night.