Ohio Gov. John Kasich’s meteoric rise in New Hampshire continues, as a new poll from Gravis Marketing shows the governor has moved into second place behind Donald Trump.
Kasich began moving up in New Hampshire even before he formally launched his presidential campaign and his climb in the polls has yet to slow down.
The poll showed Trump receiving support from 32 percent of registered Republican voters, Kasich at 15 percent, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie at 9 percent and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson tied at 8 percent.
A June survey of the Granite State showed Kasich behind ten other GOP candidates. He moved into fourth place in July, and has hit second place within the first seven days of August.
He has spent much of his time since launching his campaign in the “Live Free or Die” state, and his strategy appears to have already begun making inroads with primary voters. Two big reasons behind his success seem to include big dollars spent on televised ads by a super PAC supporting Kasich and the endorsements he has garnered from several influential New Hampshire Republicans.
Before Kasich announced his presidential campaign, the super PAC he formerly worked with spent $1.5 million on an ad buy for broadcast and cable networks in New Hampshire and in the Boston, Mass., media market.
Kasich’s presence on the ground in New Hampshire has likely helped him gain endorsement after endorsement from influential statewide officials. In the past few days, Kasich has picked up endorsements from New Hampshire House Majority Leader Jack Flanagan and former Republican National Committeewoman Nancy Merrill, who co-chaired both of Sen. John McCain’s presidential campaigns in the state.
The Ohio governor has also secured the support of members of politically powerful New Hampshire families: the Sununus and the Thomsons. Former Sen. John Sununu appeared onstage at the governor’s rally to launch his campaign in Columbus, Ohio. And Simon Thomson, the grandson of former Gov. Meldrim Thomson, has joined the Kasich campaign as its New Hampshire campaign manager.
But Kasich might be most happy now about making the main stage for the GOP’s first nationally televised debate that will be held in his backyard on Thursday. Kasich secured the final spot on the prime-time stage in Cleveland by meeting the national polling threshold required by Fox News.
Shortly after Fox News announced the names of the candidates it would allow to participate in its debate night, Kasich’s campaign blasted out a statement welcoming his competition to his home state.
“It’s only fitting that this phase of the Republican presidential nomination begins in Ohio — the Mother of Presidents,” Kasich said in the statement. “After all, no Republican has ever won the presidency without Ohio. As governor, I am glad to welcome my fellow debate participants to our great state and I look forward to discussing the issues facing our country with them on Thursday. Until then I hope everyone enjoys themselves in Cleveland; it’s a great town.”
