Kasich campaigning in Michigan, talks national security

SOUTHFIELD – Ohio Gov. John Kasich is making Michigan a top priority for his presidential campaign, beginning a two-day swing Monday through the state that has one of the earlier primary contests in the 2016 election season.

He spoke at a forum sponsored by Americans for Peace, Prosperity and Security in Southfield Monday, talking about national security and foreign policy. And he’s expected at a chamber of commerce event in East Lansing on Tuesday.

He said more resources are needed to beef up the nation’s military and intelligence community.

“We’ve allowed the Pentagon and needs of defense to be eroded over time,” he said. “It’s a matter of creating priorities. You fund the things that are critical to you.”

Spending on the Army has been reduced too much and investments haven’t been focused correctly, he said.

“Our military can project power. We need one that’s mobile and lethal,” he said.

Cyber-security also is essential and the gathering of meta-data is important, although he said he doesn’t like having the National Security Agency holding on to that data or gathering it without a sense of why it’s being gathered.

And while he said he doesn’t like to criticize presidents, Kasich took shots at President Barack Obama for the Iran nuclear deal -- saying “The president does not support American exceptionalism.” -- as well as for restoring the name of the nation’s tallest mountain, Mt. McKinley, to it’s Alaskan native roots of Denali.

Many Ohio lawmakers have slammed the renaming decision because a gold prospector named the mountain after Ohio native son, President William McKinley, in 1896 and the name stuck.

“You just don’t go and do something like that,” Kasich told reporters after the summit held at Lawrence Technological University. “In Ohio, we thought it was appropriate that a guy saw that mountain when he was one of the first ones up there and named it after the president. There’s no reason to change that.”

He also said he would have a big problem with companies who move manufacturing facilities out of the United States and then try to ship the finished products back into the country.

"I've already made a phone call to a CEO who is thinking of moving something out of our country and shipping stuff back in and I've expressed my great displeasure," Kasich said.

The group -- Americans for Peace, Prosperity and Security -- have hosted similar forums in New Hampshire, Iowa and South Carolina, the first three states with presidential primaries. Candidates who have participated include, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, California businesswoman Carly Fiorina, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, pediatric neuro surgeon Dr. Ben Carson and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham.

“The object is to make certain candidates are preparing themselves about homeland security and foreign policy,” said Bobby Schostak, former chairman of the Michigan Republican Party and the leader of APPS in Michigan. “ We want to make sure that Republican candidates are ready and focused on these issues. Those running for office need to be prepared.”

The 2-day swing through Michigan marks Kasich’s fourth trip to Michigan this year, the most of any of the presidential candidates this election season. Michigan's primary election is March 8, a week after Super Tuesday when 12 states hold primary elections or caucuses.

"I love to come here, We're neighbors. As long as they don't hold my alma mater against me, I think we should fare pretty well here,"said Kasich, a graduate of Ohio State University. "The early states matter, we have to do well in the early states, but honestly, I just get in the car and go where they tell me to go."

Contact Kathleen Gray: 517-372-8661, kgray99@freepress.com or on Twitter @michpoligal.

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