Story highlights "In the third debate, they asked me a lot of questions and I didn't feel anything was below the belt," Kasich said

The RNC suspended its February debate with NBC News amid anger over CNBC's handling of this week's event

Washington (CNN) John Kasich on Saturday shrugged off suggestions that CNBC's moderators were unfair during this week's Republican debate, a departure from his 2016 rivals and party leaders who have complained that Wednesday's contest focused on "gotcha" questions.

"In the third debate, they asked me a lot of questions and I didn't feel anything was below the belt," Kasich told CNN's Michael Smerconish.

"I don't want to spend my time talking about the process of the debate. However they set it, I'll show up and do the best I can to let people know who I am. So it's just not something I'm focused on," he added.

The Republican National Committee suspended its February debate with NBC News amid anger over CNBC's handling of this week's event in Boulder, Colorado.

"While debates are meant to include tough questions and contrast candidates' visions and policies for the future of America, CNBC's moderators engaged in a series of 'gotcha' questions, petty and mean-spirited in tone, and designed to embarrass our candidates," RNC chairman Reince Priebus said in an open letter sent to NBC News chairman Andrew Lack on Friday

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