Gov. John Kasich (R-Ohio) on Thursday said that he would become the GOP presidential nominee after a contested Republican National Convention.

“I am going to leave Cleveland as the nominee,” he said during the annual New York State GOP gala in New York City.

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“Whether you believe it or not, it’s going to happen,” Kasich added. "We are going to go to a convention. This is not about the nomination. This is about who can win the White House after defeating Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonWhat Senate Republicans have said about election-year Supreme Court vacancies Bipartisan praise pours in after Ginsburg's death Trump carries on with rally, unaware of Ginsburg's death MORE.”

Kasich said that either Clinton or Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersKenosha will be a good bellwether in 2020 Biden's fiscal program: What is the likely market impact? McConnell accuses Democrats of sowing division by 'downplaying progress' on election security MORE would escalate the national debt if elected president.

“We have $19 trillion in debt,” he said. "When the debt goes up, your opportunities to get a job go down. By the time they’re done giving away all the free stuff, the debt will be up to $30 trillion and no one will be able to get a job. This is why we have to stop them.”

Kasich added that GOP voters should reject Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump Donald John TrumpObama calls on Senate not to fill Ginsburg's vacancy until after election Planned Parenthood: 'The fate of our rights' depends on Ginsburg replacement Progressive group to spend M in ad campaign on Supreme Court vacancy MORE and Ted Cruz Rafael (Ted) Edward CruzSenate Republicans face tough decision on replacing Ginsburg Cruz: Trump should nominate a Supreme Court justice next week Renewed focus on Trump's Supreme Court list after Ginsburg's death MORE, because they are too unlikable.

“Do you know what will happen if we nominate people who have high negatives and can’t beat Hillary?” he asked. "There’s a very good chance your Senate majority leader becomes your Senate minority leader.

“We risk losing everything from the White House to the state house to the court house if we don’t promote a positive, uplifting message. It’s not pie in the sky," he said.