Gov. Kasich in prime time tonight in Cleveland

By Marc Kovac | August 6, 2015 at 12:01a.m.

By MARC KOVAC

news@vindy.com

COLUMBUS

Gov. John Kasich hits prime time today, with a chance to tout his record and his priorities to the nation during the first in a series of GOP presidential debates.

The event, featuring 10 Republican candidates who topped national polls, is scheduled to run from 9 to 11 p.m. at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.

Participants are businessman and billionaire Donald Trump; former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush; Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker; former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee; neurosurgeon Ben Carson; U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio and Rand Paul; and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie

Kasich snagged the 10th and final seat, outpacing former Texas Gov. Rick Perry.

A separate debate, open to the seven other declared GOP candidates, is set for 5 p.m.

Kasich likely will use the occasion to tout his record in Congress and in the state of Ohio to a national audience.

“The governor is uniquely qualified to serve as president,” Chris Schrimpf, spokesman for Kasich’s campaign, said in a released statement. “He is the only candidate who has helped balance the federal budget, has national security experience, and has turned around one of the largest states in the country. He also delivers his message in a way that is real and authentic so voters know he believes what he says.”

Republicans have planned watch parties around the city and state.

Democrats will be in Cleveland, too. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, congresswoman and Democratic National Committee chairwoman, will join Ohio Democrats for a pre-debate press conference near the arena.

Democratic lawmakers also offered preview comments Wednesday during a conference call with reporters, criticizing Kasich’s budget and policy decisions and other Republicans who will take the debate stage.

U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Howland, D-13th, said the event will spotlight what he called a “hostile takeover” of the Republican Party by Trump, who currently sits atop polls among GOP candidates.

“We have very wealthy people battling to take control of this party and meanwhile back here in Ohio, while we’ve seen some gains, most families are squeezed ... with the cost of everyday life,” he said.