Kasich Campaign: 'It's Up to Us to Stop Trump'

Back when there were almost 20 GOP candidates, including the likes of Jeb Bush, Scott Walker, and Chris Christie, not many people would have bet on the herd being thinned down to just Donald Trump and John Kasich. But that is where the race stands after Trump's big win in Indiana Tuesday and Ted Cruz's withdrawal—and Kasich's team says it isn't over. "It's up to us to stop Trump and unify our party in time to defeat Hillary Clinton," Kasich campaign manager Beth Hansen said in an email to supporters after Cruz's exit, per CNN.

"Tonight's results are not going to alter Gov. Kasich's campaign plans," reads a campaign email from Kasich chief strategist John Weaver seen by Politico. "Our strategy has been and continues to be one that involves winning the nomination at an open convention." But the Ohio governor—who was in third place in Indiana with 7.6% of the vote, behind Cruz with 36.6% and Trump with 53.3%—has just 153 delegates compared to well over 1,000 for Trump, putting him in fourth place behind both Cruz and Marco Rubio. GOP consultant Craig Stevens tells NJ.com that Kasich appears to be staying in the race because he feels there needs to be a "traditional Republican" to turn to if scandal destroys Trump's candidacy between now and the convention. (More John Kasich stories.)