Ohio Gov. John Kasich picked up Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley’s endorsement on Monday. The two appeared at the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in downtown Birmingham.
“He didn’t call me and ask me to endorse him. I called him,” Bentley told AL.com. “We’ve had some changes in attitudes and philosophies in the last eight years that maybe require that we move back a little to the center. And I realize that maybe the country has changed some of its attitudes about things. And I think John understands that too but can help get us back a little more to the center.”
Bentley’s endorsement of Kasich deserves attention because of the lack of gubernatorial endorsements at this stage of the presidential race. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has already picked up endorsements from a pair of east coast governors, Gov. Larry Hogan of Maryland and Gov. Paul LePage of Maine. Both Sen. Mike Rounds, South Dakota’s former governor, and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson have indicated their support for presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, another former governor of Arkansas.
Bentley’s support for Kasich also shows evidence of a possible divide among Alabama Republicans about the future of the GOP. Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions, a stalwart conservative who favors a hawkish immigration policy, has called Donald Trump’s immigration policy proposals “exactly the plan America needs.” Trump’s plan calls for deporting all criminal aliens, building a border wall paid for by Mexico and ending birthright citizenship, among other things. Trump and Kasich’s policy ideas — and personalities — appear diametrically opposed.
Bentley told AL.com he decided to endorse Kasich mainly because of his concern for others. On Saturday, he said the GOP needs to elect a compassionate Republican who cares about the sick and disabled.
“We need a candidate who loves people,” Bentley said. “If we have a candidate that loves people, we’ll win because we’re on the right side of issues.”
“I’m humbled by Governor Bentley’s support,” Kasich said in a statement. “The endorsement of a fellow governor is special, especially from someone like Governor Bentley who brings so much to his work and who has such an incredible record of service to his state and our country. What’s also significant to me is that Gov. Bentley reached out to our campaign, unsolicited, to offer his support. This is about our shared commitment to putting conservative principles to work to get America back on track. I’m very appreciative of his endorsement and I’m very excited about what we’re going to be able to do together to move the campaign forward in Alabama, the South and across the nation.”
