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John Kasich supporters feel their man is on the rise in New Hampshire John Kasich supporters feel their man is on the rise in New Hampshire
(7 months later)
John Kasich recently held his 100th town hall in New Hampshire. The Ohio governor is staking his presidential hopes on success here, after a poor showing in Iowa.John Kasich recently held his 100th town hall in New Hampshire. The Ohio governor is staking his presidential hopes on success here, after a poor showing in Iowa.
Related: Trump and Sanders make final push on day before New Hampshire primary – live coverage
There are signs that his efforts are bearing fruit. A poll released on Sunday showed Kasich in second place in the state, behind Donald Trump and just ahead of senator Marco Rubio of Florida.There are signs that his efforts are bearing fruit. A poll released on Sunday showed Kasich in second place in the state, behind Donald Trump and just ahead of senator Marco Rubio of Florida.
The Monmouth University poll showed Kasich with 14% of the vote. It was a big boost, especially since he is likely to withdraw if he does not manage a breakthrough in Tuesday’s primary.The Monmouth University poll showed Kasich with 14% of the vote. It was a big boost, especially since he is likely to withdraw if he does not manage a breakthrough in Tuesday’s primary.
“He’s said before if he doesn’t emerge out of New Hampshire as a strong viable candidate then he’s not … he has a state to go back to,” Emmalee Kalmbach, Kasich’s New Hampshire spokeswoman, told the Guardian.“He’s said before if he doesn’t emerge out of New Hampshire as a strong viable candidate then he’s not … he has a state to go back to,” Emmalee Kalmbach, Kasich’s New Hampshire spokeswoman, told the Guardian.
Kalmbach, who has also worked for Kasich in Ohio, has been on the ground in New Hampshire for nine weeks. The governor has 15 paid staff members in the state. Kalmbach said he also had “hundreds and hundreds” of volunteers. It seems to be paying off.Kalmbach, who has also worked for Kasich in Ohio, has been on the ground in New Hampshire for nine weeks. The governor has 15 paid staff members in the state. Kalmbach said he also had “hundreds and hundreds” of volunteers. It seems to be paying off.
“We’re beyond the point of, ‘Kasich, who’s Kasich?’” Kalmbach said. “They know him, they like his experience … and they realise that he has the experience on day one to act and get this country back on track.”“We’re beyond the point of, ‘Kasich, who’s Kasich?’” Kalmbach said. “They know him, they like his experience … and they realise that he has the experience on day one to act and get this country back on track.”
Looking at Kasich’s résumé, he does appear to be one of the most experienced candidates in the race. The 63-year-old has been the governor of Ohio since 2011 and he served as a congressman from 1983 to 2001. His record is given extra importance when you consider that no Republican has ever been elected president without winning the Buckeye State.Looking at Kasich’s résumé, he does appear to be one of the most experienced candidates in the race. The 63-year-old has been the governor of Ohio since 2011 and he served as a congressman from 1983 to 2001. His record is given extra importance when you consider that no Republican has ever been elected president without winning the Buckeye State.
On Saturday, dozens of supporters gathered at Kasich’s New Hampshire headquarters for a brief appearance by the governor. He was there to spur them on as they launched into a final door-knocking effort.On Saturday, dozens of supporters gathered at Kasich’s New Hampshire headquarters for a brief appearance by the governor. He was there to spur them on as they launched into a final door-knocking effort.
Kasich HQ is just off the busy 293 highway, a two-storey white building underneath a huge Jeb Bush billboard.Kasich HQ is just off the busy 293 highway, a two-storey white building underneath a huge Jeb Bush billboard.
Huge Jeb Bush billboard towers over John Kasich's New Hampshire HQ pic.twitter.com/aeTAeNi1ZCHuge Jeb Bush billboard towers over John Kasich's New Hampshire HQ pic.twitter.com/aeTAeNi1ZC
Kasich arrived on his dark blue campaign bus. On the side was his campaign slogan, which was as pithy as it was ill-punctuated: “Results. Now. For us.”Kasich arrived on his dark blue campaign bus. On the side was his campaign slogan, which was as pithy as it was ill-punctuated: “Results. Now. For us.”
The volunteers cheered his arrival. They were waving wooden planks. Each plank had four Kasich posters stapled to it. The placards spelled out: “Kasich for us. Kasich for us.”The volunteers cheered his arrival. They were waving wooden planks. Each plank had four Kasich posters stapled to it. The placards spelled out: “Kasich for us. Kasich for us.”
The supporters – and a horde of journalists – formed a semi-circle around the door of the bus as Kasich stepped out. He was wearing a black fleece – it said “Kasich” over the left breast – smart trousers and a pair of sturdy North Face hiking boots.The supporters – and a horde of journalists – formed a semi-circle around the door of the bus as Kasich stepped out. He was wearing a black fleece – it said “Kasich” over the left breast – smart trousers and a pair of sturdy North Face hiking boots.
“I’ve worn out more shoes knocking on doors than you can imagine,” he told the crowd. It is true that the boots looked pretty new.“I’ve worn out more shoes knocking on doors than you can imagine,” he told the crowd. It is true that the boots looked pretty new.
“Every single vote matters,” he said. “You don’t want to fall 20 votes short. So please, when you see that house at the end of the street, you got to get there.”“Every single vote matters,” he said. “You don’t want to fall 20 votes short. So please, when you see that house at the end of the street, you got to get there.”
Kasich told the crowd that he was “rising here in New Hampshire”. In a sense, this is true. At the end of November, Real Clear Politics showed his average polling in the state to be 7.2%. The polling site now shows Kasich at 12%. This would be great news for the Kasich campaign, were it not for the fact that the same data shows he was polling at 12.7% on 1 September.Kasich told the crowd that he was “rising here in New Hampshire”. In a sense, this is true. At the end of November, Real Clear Politics showed his average polling in the state to be 7.2%. The polling site now shows Kasich at 12%. This would be great news for the Kasich campaign, were it not for the fact that the same data shows he was polling at 12.7% on 1 September.
Still, those who turned out were optimistic. Stacey Cadman, 26, had travelled to New Hampshire from Ohio. She arrived on Friday and by Saturday afternoon she had knocked on 100 doors, reiterating Kasich’s selling points: he has a track record of balancing budgets, he won a gubernatorial election in a Democratic-leaning state, he is not as volatile and chaotic as someone like Donald Trump.Still, those who turned out were optimistic. Stacey Cadman, 26, had travelled to New Hampshire from Ohio. She arrived on Friday and by Saturday afternoon she had knocked on 100 doors, reiterating Kasich’s selling points: he has a track record of balancing budgets, he won a gubernatorial election in a Democratic-leaning state, he is not as volatile and chaotic as someone like Donald Trump.
“People love it,” Cadman said. “They’re very responsive and excited to talk.”“People love it,” Cadman said. “They’re very responsive and excited to talk.”
Cadman volunteered for Kasich when he ran for Ohio governor.Cadman volunteered for Kasich when he ran for Ohio governor.
“He’s a really passionate guy,” she said. “He has experience that can bring the country to where it needs to be.”“He’s a really passionate guy,” she said. “He has experience that can bring the country to where it needs to be.”
John Gardner, a 50-year-old volunteer, had been volunteering in New Hampshire for two weeks. He said he was beginning to see a shift in responses.John Gardner, a 50-year-old volunteer, had been volunteering in New Hampshire for two weeks. He said he was beginning to see a shift in responses.
“It’s going from a maybe to a yes,” he said.“It’s going from a maybe to a yes,” he said.
Gardner said he liked that Kasich seemed relatively bipartisan.Gardner said he liked that Kasich seemed relatively bipartisan.
“He has a realisation that you’ve got to bring people together,” he said.“He has a realisation that you’ve got to bring people together,” he said.
Gardner said a lot of the time people leaning towards Kasich also liked Rubio and Bush. He tried to convince people, he said, by comparing Rubio to the current occupant of the White House: “How did the last freshman senator work out?”Gardner said a lot of the time people leaning towards Kasich also liked Rubio and Bush. He tried to convince people, he said, by comparing Rubio to the current occupant of the White House: “How did the last freshman senator work out?”
Still, he did not expect Kasich to win. Asked what would be a success, he said: “Ideally a strong second.”Still, he did not expect Kasich to win. Asked what would be a success, he said: “Ideally a strong second.”
“But even if he comes in third” it would not be a bad thing, Gardner said. “As long as he can beat Bush and Christie, break out from the other governors.”“But even if he comes in third” it would not be a bad thing, Gardner said. “As long as he can beat Bush and Christie, break out from the other governors.”