Dave Boucher

USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee

Republican presidential candidate and Ohio Gov. John Kasich will host an open rally Feb. 27 in Nashville as part of his campaign's three-stop trip to Tennessee ahead of the March 1 primary.

Kasich's townhall is set for 11 a.m. at Rocketown, a popular venue for GOP presidential contenders recently in downtown Nashville. The event is free and open to anyone. Attendees can RSVP online, according to local communications official and Kasich's state coordinator John Crisp.

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This marks the third trip to Middle Tennessee for Kasich, who toured Vanderbilt University and visited with Williamson County business leaders in July and a Nashville fundraiser in December. Kasich has town halls scheduled for Feb. 26 in Memphis, and another event Feb. 27 in Knoxville after the Nashville event.

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Kasich's campaign found a resurgence after a second-place finish in the New Hampshire primary. Although Kasich isn't in the top three among GOP candidate polls nationally or in South Carolina — which votes Saturday — the former congressman and two-term governor says he plans to pick up delegates once Midwestern states cast their votes.

Tennessee is one of 12 states with primaries on March 1. With 58 GOP delegates up for grabs from the conservative-heavy state, other Republican candidates are expected to swing through Tennessee in the coming days. U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio announced a campaign stop Sunday in Franklin, and confirmation of visits from other candidates is expected soon.

Reach Dave Boucher at 615-259-8892 and on Twitter @Dave_Boucher1.