Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval endorsed John Kasich for president Saturday.
“Under John Kasich’s leadership, Ohio’s economy has undergone an incredible transformation,” Sandoval said in a statement.
“John Kasich is the only candidate in the race with a real plan to deliver results, and he is the only Republican who can defeat Hillary Clinton in the fall. I look forward to helping his team spread this message to voters in the months ahead,” Sandoval said.
Kasich has already racked up newspaper endorsements, and backing from some fellow GOP politicians, but he remains far behind GOP front-runner Donald Trump and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in delegates. Kasich has won 143 pledged delegates. Cruz has 545. Trump has 743 of the 1,237 a candidate needs to lock up the GOP nomination.
Sandoval’s backing likely won’t do much to help Kasich win votes, but it could bolster Kasich’s case that he should stay in the race and bid to win the nomination on a late ballot at the Republican National Convention.
Both Kasich, a former multi-term congressman, and Sandoval, a former U.S. attorney, entered office in 2010 with help from a national Tea Party wave.
Sandoval, pro-choice, is a relative moderate, like Christine Todd Whitman, another Kasich backer. Hispanic, younger, telegenic, and from a swing state, Sandoval has been mentioned as potential vice presidential candidate.
Nevada has already voted, with Donald Trump winning the state’s Republican presidential primary.
