John Kasich suspends campaign for Republican presidential nomination

Ohio Gov. John Kasich suspended his campaign Wednesday, further clearing Donald Trump's path to the Republican nomination.

Kasich announced the ending of his underdog White House bid in Columbus, Ohio, a day after Trump's only other rival, Texas Senator Ted Cruz, dropped out following Trump's commanding victory in the Indiana primary.

He acknowledged his message as a moderate Republican "wasn't a great sound byte" and thanked his staff.

"Nobody has ever done more with less in the history of politics," he said.

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Kasich also reflected on the people he met on his quixoticcampaign.

"The people of our country changed me," he said. "They changed me with the stories of their lives."

Though armed with an extensive rsum in U.S. politics, the second-term governor struggled to connect with Republican primary voters in a year dominated by anti-establishment frustration.

Kasich wasmore moderate than his rivals,embracingelements of President Barack Obama's healthcare overhaul and called for an optimistic and proactive Republican agenda.

He criticized the tone and vision of his opponents,slamming Trump for creating a "toxic" political environment and Cruz for promoting policies that are unachievable.

Cruz out, Sanders clings to his political life

8 years ago

Duration 2:03

Ted Cruz packs up his heavy heart and exits the presidential arena, Bernie Sanders lives to fight another day after his win in Indiana

Only 1 primary win

The Republican competition changed dramatically with Trump's Indiana victory and Cruz's abrupt decision to quit the race. Trump won with 53.3 per cent of the vote to Cruz's 36.6 percent and Kasich's 7.6 per cent.

The only primary Kasich was able to win was his home state of Ohio, and he was far behind in delegates. In fact, he comes in fourth in total delegates, behind Florida Senator Marco Rubio who dropped out the night of Kasich's only win.

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Kasich has acknowledged that a contested convention was his only path to the nomination. He's previously faced calls to bow out, including from Trump.

"He's taking my votes," the New York businessman told reporters in Milwaukee last month.

Kasich and Cruz had momentarily joined forces in April, releasing co-ordinated statements committing to not campaign in states in which the other presidential hopeful has a better chance of beating Trump, in particular Indiana for Cruz and Oregon for Kasich.

The so-called alliance was seen by some as "too little, too late" and ultimately fruitless.

Trump presumptive nominee

With no opponents left in the Republican race, Trump becomes the party's presumptive nominee to take on the Democratic nominee in November.

Even before Kasich's announcement, Trump signalled a new phase of his outsider campaign that includes a search for a running mate with experience governing and outreach to one-time competitors in an effort to heal the fractured Republican Party.

He said he may be willing to consider Kasich as his vice-presidential pick.

Trump told CNN Wednesday he would "be interested in vetting John," and that he would be "helpful" with winning the swing state of Ohio in the general election.

However, his efforts will be an uphill battle. Kasich has previously suggested he may not support Trump if he becomes the Republican nominee, an extraordinary stance for intraparty rivals, and said there is "no chance" he would be Trump's running mate.

Some Republicans are even pledging to vote for Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton.

"The GOP is going to nominate for President a guy who reads the National Enquirer and thinks it's on the level," Mark Salter, a top campaign aide to 2008 Republican nominee John McCain, wrote on Twitter on Tuesday, adding Clinton's slogan: "I'm with her."

Salter was referring to Trump earlier repeating allegations from the publication that Cruz's father was seen in a photo with Lee Harvey Oswald, the man who assassinated U.S. president John F. Kennedy.

Trump characteristically dismissed his critics.

"Those people can go away and maybe come back in eight years after we served two terms," he told NBC's TodayShow. "Honestly, there are some people I really don't want."