Kasich: ‘Ballgame is over’ if I get ‘smoked’ in NH

by Ben Kamisar - 01/15/16 6:21 PM ET

John Kasich pinned his presidential campaign’s future on New Hampshire in a new interview where he said he’d drop out if he struggles during the state’s February primary.

“If I get smoked in New Hampshire, then you know kind of the ballgame is over…because then it becomes very hard to raise money,” Kasich said during an interview on WABC Radio’s “Election Central with Rita Cosby.”

{mosads}”But I just don’t think that’s the way it’s going to be.”

The Ohio governor faces a tough slog in New Hampshire, as he’s caught in a battle with Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush and Chris Christie for the title of establishment favorite in the state. And that doesn’t even include the state’s current polling leader, Donald Trump, or Ted Cruz, who is polling well in the state as well.

Kasich sits in third place in New Hampshire, according to RealClearPolitics’ average of recent polling, less than 2 points behind Rubio, but 19 behind Trump. He has devoted most of his resources to the early state and has held more events in the state than any other active candidate except Christie, according to New England Cable News’ candidate tracker.

He also once again ruled out the prospect of running for vice president, flatly telling Cosby, “I’m not interested.”

Tags Donald Trump Marco Rubio Ted Cruz