SALT LAKE CITY — Ohio governor and Republican presidential hopeful John Kasich visited Utah to meet with Gov. Gary Herbert and LDS Church leaders Wednesday.

After arriving together at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' Welfare Square in a three-vehicle motorcade of black SUVs, the two governors toured the welfare facilities with Bishop Dean M. Davies of the Presiding Bishopric.

The LDS Church hosted the tour for Kasich as a sitting governor. Herbert attended the tour as a courtesy and said he has not yet endorsed any presidential candidate.

After leaving the Welfare Square Cannery, where thousands of pounds of grain is stored, Kasich waved up at the silo and called the church's efforts "faith in action."

"It's the power of faith that drives this entire operation, and it's the power of faith that has all that grain stored up there to feed people in need," he said. "Here's an illustration that it's about loving your neighbor as you love yourself.

"It's remarkable," he continued. "When you look at the dedication of the entire community, it's so important for people to see these kinds of messages. I mean, I wish all of America knew about this."

Kasich's visit to Utah came a day after the final Republican presidential debate of the year, held in Las Vegas Tuesday night. The Ohio governor is currently polling with single-digit percentage points in a crowded pool of Republicans, lagging far behind GOP front-runner Donald Trump.

Herbert did have praise for Kasich, saying his 18 years of experience in Congress make him a "formidable" candidate for president.

"There's probably no one that's got more experience — and better experience — for the job than he does," Herbert said. "That experience, I think, does count. ... I think he's going to do a lot better than some people are thinking."

Herbert said he "appreciates" Kasich's understanding of state roles in government.

"I think the states are the best hope for America. I want a president who says, 'Lets devolve more power back to the states and stop the overreach of the federal government," Herbert said.

Before the tour, Kasich attended a private fundraiser at a Salt Lake City home. State Rep. Kraig Powell, R-Heber, the state director for Kasich's campaign, attended the fundraiser, where he said about a dozen supporters gathered to hear the Ohio governor's message.

"The supporters who were there, including myself, believe he is the most electable in the general election. And he reinforced that today," Powell said. "He spoke about his re-election in Ohio and the fact that Ohio is probably the most important state on the electoral map, and he believes if he can continue to get that message out to people and talk about his experience, he'll be successful."

In response to reporters' questions about how he plans to emerge from the pack of candidates, Kasich said his success will branch out, as it has in New Hampshire, where he said he's currently polling well.

"We don't run a regional primary or a national primary. If that's the way we did it, there's no way I'd be a candidate for president," Kasich said. "So it's important for me to do well in Iowa. It's a big state. ... If I do well there, which I think I'm going to do, you won't be asking that question anymore."

Immediately after Wednesday's tour, Kasich left to catch a flight to Iowa, where he said he plans to attend a town hall meeting and visit through Thursday.

Email: kmckellar@deseretnews.com

Twitter: KatieMcKellar1