Ohio Gov. John Kasich continues to ignore calls to drop out of the presidential race saying in Georgia Tuesday, "I would hope they would be clearing the decks for me. I've spent the least amount of money and am rising in the polls. I can win my home state. Why would I clear the decks for them? They ought to be consolidating around me." As some in the GOP look for ways to push billionaire Donald Trump out, they want everyone to line up behind another candidate, namely Sen. Marco Rubio.

Want to know what's happening in Ohio government and politics from Columbus to Washington, D.C.? The Columbus Dispatch has you covered.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich continues to ignore calls to drop out of the presidential race saying in Georgia Tuesday, "I would hope they would be clearing the decks for me. I've spent the least amount of money and am rising in the polls. I can win my home state. Why would I clear the decks for them? They ought to be consolidating around me."

As some in the GOP look for ways to push billionaire Donald Trump out, they want everyone to line up behind another candidate, namely Sen. Marco Rubio.

Dispatch Public Affairs Editor Darrel Rowland and Washington reporter Jessica Wehrman write, "A Washington-based Republican close to the presidential race - who would talk only on the condition of anonymity because of his position - said March 15 could potentially be dangerous on two fronts: If Kasich loses Ohio and Rubio loses Florida, Trump becomes basically a shoo-in."

"People are really scared Trump is going to win. You're starting to hear a chorus of, 'the hour is late,' " he said.

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In Nevada: "With a big win in Nevada, Donald Trump claimed a third straight commanding victory in the race for the Republican presidential nomination. A tight race for second between Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz offered little evidence that Republicans were ready to coalesce around one strong alternative to the businessman billionaire," Associated Press reporters Steve Peoples and Nancy Benac write. "With victories now under his belt in the West, the South and Northeast, a gleeful Trump was oozing even more confidence than usual Tuesday night that the GOP nomination is within reach."

Kasich came in last place among the five contenders still in the race.

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Some news Team Kasich could use: "Even though a poll Tuesday had Gov. John Kasich trailing in his home state, a survey released this morning shows Ohio voters view him as by far the strongest Republican candidate versus Democrats," Rowland writes. "Today's round of the Quinnipiac University Poll shows Kasich beating former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton by 17 points and Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont by 19."

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In other primary news:"The new poll shows former Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland ahead of Republican U.S. Sen. Rob Portman 44 percent to 42 percent. In contrast, Portman is besting Democratic Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld by 19 points in a hypothetical general election matchup," Rowland writes.

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The Beltway Rubio Bubble memo: Kasich's campaign strategist John Weaver sent out a memo Tuesday hitting Rubio. "Republicans aren't looking for another teleprompter-dependent Senator to be President. Instead, Republicans want a 'call it like they see it' conservative who will actually deliver results. Governor Kasich is the only candidate who has the authenticity voters want and the experience of someone who is prepared to be President. To borrow from a great Oklahoman, Toby Keith, America needs a little less talk and a lot more action. Governor Kasich's record is one of action and results, not just talk," Weaver writes.

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In his own words: Kasich was in Georgia campaigning Tuesday. Here's a look at what he had to say during a town hall at Kennesaw State University, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Greg Bluestein.

On his purpose: "I don't know if my purpose is to be president," Kasich said. "My purpose is to be out here doing what I think I need to be doing, and we'll see where it ends up."

On getting attention: "In the era of the 24 (hour) news cycle, I'm just not going to go out there and do something to just grab attention," he said. "You've got to get on the phone and call people. Because you know what, miracles do happen."

On how he's doing: "I've already won," he said. "When I have newspapers across the country saying this is a guy who can pull it together, when I have Democrats saying this is a guy I could support like Reagan, when I come to an event at Kennesaw State, man it's icing on the cake. I'm the last governor standing. I think I've done pretty well."

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Meanwhile, from The Boston Globe: "Stopping Donald J. Trump is imperative - and not just for his fellow Republicans. In Massachusetts, which votes next Tuesday, unenrolled voters may also vote in the GOP presidential primary. The Globe has endorsed John Kasich, the highly qualified governor of Ohio, and urges unenrolled voters to cast a Republican ballot for him instead of voting in the Democratic primary on the same day," The Boston Globe editorial board writes.

The Globe endorsed Kasich ahead of the New Hampshire primary.

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Back in Ohio: "Scott Milburn is leaving the presidential campaign of Ohio Gov. John Kasich to return to the governor's office in the No. 2 position," Dispatch reporter Randy Ludlow writes. "Milburn, Kasich's communications director since 2011 before resigning his $135,000-a-year job to join Kasich for America, will become deputy chief of staff on Monday, the governor's office announced."

Milburn replaces Jai Chabria who is going to the Ohio Republican Party to help plan the Republican National Convention in Cleveland this summer.

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Voters Guide: Want to see who is on your ballot? Check out The Dispatch Voters Guide to get info on 98 candidates.

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On the countdown: 6 days until Super Tuesday, also known as the SEC primary, 13 days until the Michigan primary and 20 days until the Ohio primary.

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Charter changes: "Charter sponsors want to delay new evaluations of their performance, arguing that they deserve the same protections that traditional schools are getting this school year," Dispatch reporter Jim Siegel writes. "The Ohio Department of Education reportedly is concerned that such a delay could jeopardize a $71 million federal grant that the state is already struggling to keep hold of in the wake of a charter data-scrubbing scandal."

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Environmental issues: "For years, the Ohio Environmental Council has done policy work, legal work and coalition building in the Statehouse, often wrestling well-heeled interests including power companies, the oil and gas industry and other business groups," Siegel writes. "Now those efforts will be supplemented by a new nonprofit organization, the Ohio Environmental Council Action Fund, which will have the ability to get into the politics and elections in a way that the council has not in the past."

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Sales tax holiday: "A bill that would once again create a three-day sales tax holiday in August passed the Senate with overwhelming support," Siegel writes. "Sen. Kevin Bacon, R-Minerva Park, wanted to make permanent the three-day sales tax break from 2015, but after conversations with some other senators and the Ohio Department of Taxation, he agreed to once again make it for one year."

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Work accommodations for pregnant women: "Responding to a call from more than 150 religious leaders, Republican and Democratic women in the Ohio Senate are banding together to support a bill that would require employers to provide temporary accommodations to protect the health of pregnant and breastfeeding employees," Dispatch reporter JoAnne Viviano writes. "Sen. Shannon Jones, a Republican from Springboro, and Sen. Capri Cafaro, a Democrat from Hubbard, plan to introduce legislation that would apply to businesses with four or more workers. Four other women senators have agreed to be co-sponsors, said Amanda Hoyt, Ohio director of Faith in Public Life, which is behind the push for the legislation."

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Happening tonight in Columbus: Mayor Andrew Ginther will give his first State of the City address.

"Ginther plans to announce a redevelopment of the Linden Park IGE Alternative School building, 1400 Myrtle Ave., and a nearby neighborhood recreation center into a preschool education center during his inaugural address at 6:30 p.m. at Whetstone High School," Dispatch reporter Lucas Sullivan writes. "The city plans to partner with Ohio State University to create 14 classrooms that will begin serving 200 pre-kindergarten students in the next year or two. The center also will be a resource to help parents learn about job placement and preparing their children for kindergarten."

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On this day: According to the Dispatch library, on this day in 2010, "Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner proposes state legislation that would add an amendment to a pending elections bill that would require corporations to disclose all independent political expenditures."

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meverhart@dispatch.com

@meverhart26