Republican contender John Kasich ends campaign

  • 05/05/2016
John Kasich (Reuters)
John Kasich (Reuters)

Republican John Kasich has ended his longshot presidential bid, NBC News and Politico report, leaving Donald Trump's path clear to capture the Republican nomination for the November 8 election.

Mr Kasich, 63, the Ohio governor and a former US congressman, had vowed just a day earlier to keep running after US Senator Ted Cruz dropped out following a poor showing in Indiana's Republican primary on Tuesday.

NBC on Wednesday (local time) cited an unidentified Mr Kasich campaign source as saying the governor would suspend his campaign. The campaign did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment.

Mr Kasich, who was able to win only his own state in the race for the 2016 Republican nomination, cancelled a media appearance on Wednesday in Virginia and scheduled a 5pm statement in Columbus, Ohio, his campaign said.

Mr Trump's decisive victory in the Indiana primary forced Mr Cruz to suspend his candidacy and prompted speculation that Mr Kasich, running a distant third, would do the same.

Reuters