Alabama Governor Robert Bentley publicly endorsed Ohio Governor John Kasich for the Republican presidential nomination this morning at the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in Birmingham. He says he chose Kasich because of his experience and optimism.
In Need of a Champion
“You know today, America needs a champion,” Bentley says. “We need someone who believes in the promise of our great country.”
Bentley is the first Deep South governor to support Kasich. Holding a football signed by University of Alabama Coach Nick Saban, the Ohio Governor couldn’t help but get emotional when he heard the news.
“So it sends a signal in the South. I’m headed to South Carolina, and the first thing I’m going to tell them is, ‘Hey, guess what?, I was just endorsed for president of the United States by the governor of Alabama,'” Kasich says. “It makes a big difference.”
More to Come in Alabama
According to the most recent poll from Fox News, Kasich is tied with Florida Senator Marco Rubio for seventh place, with 4 percent of respondents saying Kasich is their top choice.
Next week, five more of the 17 Republican presidential candidates will visit Alabama.