Ohio Gov. John Kasich likened a question about GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump’s reaching the number of delegates needed to clinch the Republican nomination to asking about a “spaceman” landing, insisting that there will be an open convention in July.
“He’s not going to get to 1,237,” Mr. Kasich said on Monday’s “The Kelly File” on Fox News. “That’s like saying what if a spaceman lands tonight? That’s not going to happen.”
Mr. Trump has to win about 55 percent of the outstanding delegates in order to reach the 1,237 delegates needed to clinch the nomination before the July convention in Cleveland. Mr. Kasich, who mathematically cannot get there before Republicans meet this summer, is banking on eventually swaying delegates at a contested convention.
“He’s not. No. He’s not going to get there,” Mr. Kasich said. “We’re going to a convention. No, no he’s not.”
Mr. Kasich said if he had left the race, Mr. Trump would have won Ohio and would have been guaranteed to get there.
“We’re going to be competitive in the states going forward, and he’s not going to have the delegates,” Mr. Kasich said.
