A top adviser to John Kasich pushed back against claims that the Ohio governor’s presence in the race is keeping Ted Cruz from stopping Donald Trump.
In a series of tweets, John Weaver, Kasich’s chief strategist, called the Cruz campaign’s past statements about the Ohioan’s presidential bid “disingenuous.”
Weaver said that while both campaigns have reached out to each other to ensure that Trump is denied the requisite 1,237 delegates to win the nomination, only the Kasich campaign has held up its end of the bargain, such as by making a play in Arizona.
“Cruz camp is disingenuous about division of targeting re: Trump,” Weaver tweeted. “On multiple levels, Cruz camp has reached out to us (and vice versa) to ensure Trump is denied 1,237. They know what we know: only path to nomination for Cruz or us is through open convention.”
“Only action to date has been unilateral by us re: AZ (which they knew in advance). Even Mitt has urged Cruz to work with us! To no avail,” Weaver lamented. “As usual they want it both ways, appearance of attempt to work together/victim, but no action. To question [John Kasich’s] motivation is underhanded, and opposite of what they say in private. Facts are JK best positioned in most states moving forward & in general election. #stopvicitimact [sic].”
Cruz camp is disingenuous about division of targeting re: Trump. On multiple levels, Cruz camp has reached out to us (and vice versa) 1/5
— John Weaver (@JWGOP) March 25, 2016
to ensure Trump is denied 1,237. They know what we know: only path to nomination for Cruz or us is through open convention. Only action 2/5
— John Weaver (@JWGOP) March 25, 2016
to date has been unilateral by us re: AZ (which they knew in advance). Even Mitt has urged Cruz to work with us! To no avail. As usual, 3/5
— John Weaver (@JWGOP) March 25, 2016
they want it both ways, appearance of attempt to work together/victim, but no action. To question @JohnKasich motivation is underhanded, 4/5
— John Weaver (@JWGOP) March 25, 2016
and opposite of what they say in private. Facts are JK best positioned in most states moving forward & in general election. #stopvicitimact
— John Weaver (@JWGOP) March 25, 2016
Weaver publicly called Thursday for the Cruz campaign to “stay out” of Pennsylvania, New York and the New England states given that Kasich is polling well has a chance to challenge Trump there, while Cruz does elsewhere.
In a poll released Thursday, Kasich is nipping at Trump’s heels in Pennsylvania, and has put up respectable showings in New England states that have voted thus far, specifically his second place finishes in New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts.
Additionally, Weaver also tweeted that the Kasich campaign has accepted a chance to participate in a “Town Hall style debate” on April, which would be hosted by Fox News. The Republican National Committee and Fox News did not respond to requests for comment from the Washington Examiner.
Kasich has been criticized for campaigning in states like Utah and Wisconsin, where Cruz was best positioned to deny Trump delegates.
