‘I had to search my conscience’: Kasich explains decision to speak at Democratic convention

“The reason I didn’t support Trump the last time is I was afraid that he would be a divider and not a unifier, and our best leaders historically have been unifiers — Republicans and Democrats. But unfortunately, as I’ve watched him over the last 3 1/2 years now, he’s continued to do that, and I don’t think the country does well when we’re divided,” Kasich told CNN.

“I had to search my conscience. When the Democrats asked me to speak, I had to think about it, and I believe we need a new direction. We just can’t keep going the way that we’re going,” he added. “It was necessary to do this, and I felt it’s the right thing to do.”

Kasich encouraged fellow Republicans to “take off your partisan hat and vote on the basis of what your conscience tells you about the future of your country, not just for yourself but for your kids as well.”

Kasich says he wrote in Sen. John McCain’s name for president in 2016. This year he will speak during the first day of the Democratic convention. Kasich argued that he can support Biden while holding onto his conservative values.

“So, I’m a conservative, and people are going to say, ‘Oh well, he’s really not,’ but yes, I have been,” the former governor said. “But I believe that Biden can bring us together. I am going to disagree with Joe on things, and they expected that when they asked me to do this.”

Kasich said that he thinks Biden is a “man of faith” who can bring people together.

“I think he can restore civility,” Kasich said. “And I don’t think he’ll go hard left. I think he’s a pretty tough guy. So, I’m comfortable with the fact that he would be our leader. I expect he’ll have Republicans that will be part of anything he does going forward.”