Governor Kasich wasted no time getting to New Hampshire after officially announcing his candidacy for president Tuesday.
Kasich launched his bid at the OSU student union. Kaisch hopes to join the likes of Harrison, Grant, Hayes, Garfield, Taft, McKinley and Harding - as an Ohioan in the White House.
Nearly 2,000 supporters chanted as 63-year-old John Kasich made his case for why he should be president.
"I have decided to run for president of the United States," announced Kasich.
Kasich's speech was largely biographical. He traced his political career which began in the late 1970's. He bragged he was an underdog candidate for the Ohio statehouse, Congress and governor. He weaved personal stories of his parents and two uncles who served in World War Two into his resume for the White House.
He said for many the American Dream is out of reach as he set an empathetic argument for helping people gain healthcare, fight drug abuse and poverty and find jobs to erase student debt.
"If I'm president, I know what we need to do. O-kay, there's no confusion about that, I know what needs to be done, I have been there at all levels, o-k?" Kasich asked.
Within a couple more minutes, Kasich made his first campaign promise.
"I will promise you that my top priority will get this country on a path to fiscal independence, strength, and we will rebuild the economy of this country because creating jobs is our highest moral purpose and we will move to get that done," says Kasich.
Kasich touted his experience reforming the pentagon and helping balance the federal budget during the Clinton administration. He presented himself as someone who brings people together. He said policy is more important than politics or ideology. He finished his appeal with a quote from scripture.
"And folks, as it has been said many times the light on a city on a hill cannot be hidden. America is that city and you are that light....."
Across High Street from the union, a group of about 100 protesters gathered on a sidewalk.. They held signs opposing Kasich's policies on unions , education, and finance. Melissa Svigelj-Smith, a Cleveland teacher was among those protesting.
"We are saying that John Kasich is not OK. We actually have a quote on the side of the sign. One of Kasich's quotes, 'if you are not on the bus, we'll run you over with the bus," says Svigelj-Smith.
Kasich is the 16th Republican to get into the race. He's banking on his unfiltered style and policies to make him competitive. After a swing through New Hampshire, Kaisch plans stops in South Carolina, Iowa, and Michigan.