Kasich says no to being a running mate on Republican ticket

A distant third in the three-man race for the nomination, Ohio governor rules out joining either Trump or Cruz

By AP 20 March 2016, 6:35 am

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Republican presidential candidate Ohio Gov. John Kasich speaks at a town hall event at Utah Valley University, Friday, March 18, 2016, in Orem, Utah. (AP Photo/Kim Raff)

WASHINGTON — Republican presidential candidate John Kasich is taking himself out of the running for running mate.

In an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Kasich says that under no circumstances will he be rival Ted Cruz’s running mate. Earlier in the week he ruled out joining a ticket with front-runner Donald Trump.

The Ohio governor says he’s not going to be anybody’s running mate and that he’s running for president.

Kasich is a distant third in the three-candidate race for enough delegates to win the nomination at the Republican convention this summer. That has brought speculation that he could be either Trump’s or Cruz’s running mate in an effort to unify their supporters.

The interview airs Sunday on “Meet the Press.”