Ohio Gov. John Kasich, a 2016 GOP presidential candidate, said in an interview broadcast on Sunday that Republicans have put themselves in a corner on social and other issues that make them look less compassionate to voters.

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"I think Republicans allowed themselves to be put in a box," he said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

“To me, conservatism is giving everybody a chance to be able to be successful,” he said.

"That's the way Reagan was,” he added, referring to former President Ronald Reagan. “I mean, that's common sense."

Kasich said in another interview on Sunday that the United States needs to finish a wall between Mexico to keep illegal immigrants out of the country.

Kasich said on CBS’s “Face the Nation” that once a barrier is finished, U.S. policymakers must “make it clear” that anyone who comes over that wall is going right back.

He suggested that the 12 million undocumented immigrants who are in the United States should be "legalized," but only while making sure that “not any of the criminal element is here."

He also suggested a guest-worker program.

“I think the country can unite around that.”

Kasich also said on CNN that he the didn't need the Bible to help him decide to expand the Medicaid program in his state.

"I didn't read a Bible to decide that," he said.

On another hot-button issue — abortion — Kasich said there are cases, such as the health of the mother, where exceptions are "reasonable."

"Look, I think, no matter what your position is on the issue, you have to respect for people," he said on CNN. "And I do. And it's an issue that people have a right to have a different point of view."

Besides, he said, there are plenty of other social issues besides abortion that need attention, such as infant mortality, education and the environment.

He called himself “passionate” but said he is not a "marshmallow" and will seek to achieve major goals in the White House by building bipartisan consensus.

Kasich’s campaign has surged recently in New Hampshire polls after his strong debate performance.

Meanwhile, he said, "I'm having an absolute ball" on the campaign trail.

"I'm having so much fun."