Ohio Republican delegation gives cold shoulder to Trump
CINCINNATI (AP) — Ohio's Republican delegation starting with Gov. John Kasich is giving Donald Trump the cold shoulder at the GOP convention in Cleveland.
Kasich, an also-ran in the presidential sweepstakes, hasn't endorsed Trump and won't speak at the convention, a stunning rebuke by the most senior home-state elected official.
The state party chairman, Matt Borges, who heads the delegation, said there was a period of mourning for Kasich, followed by acceptance and resolve to help Trump defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton in November.
Instead of the convention, he plans to address the NAACP gathering in Cincinnati on Sunday, a meeting Trump is skipping, and the governor will hang out with Ohio's delegates at the Rock and Roll of Fame and Museum at a reception Tuesday.
Portman says he supports Trump, but has a busy schedule of outside events including kayaking with wounded veterans and working in a Habitat for Humanity project.
Delegate Alex Triantafilou, chairman of the Hamilton County Republican Party, said as soon as Kasich suspended his campaign, he started focusing on helping organize his county for Trump.