John Kasich surprises Ohio delegates at RNC

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WKRC) - Ohio delegates at the RNC had a surprise visitor this morning. It was the man they had hoped would be accepting the party's presidential nomination on July 21. John Kasich addressed the group at a delegate breakfast.

The John Kasich who ran for president is not the same man elected as Ohio governor in 2010. Back then, he was seen as arrogant but he suffered a humiliating defeat when voters overwhelming repealed the anti-union Senate Bill 5. "We went through a very tough time on Senate Bill 5. Why? We overreached. Didn't listen. Didn't unify."

Kasich changed. He expanded Medicaid over objections from Republican legislators in Columbus. While far from a liberal, he's very anti-abortion for example, Kasich ran for president as a centrist. "I can tell you when you stand on principles, sometimes you're alone. That's cool, because at the end of day it's just you and the mirror. Well, you, the mirror and the Lord".

The governor never mentioned Donald Trump by name when he spoke to the delegation and never referred to stories that Trump allegedly offered Kasich the V.P. slot.

The governor said not speaking at the convention was fine, apparently referring to the Ted Cruz speech fiasco. "You can all understand why I didn't show up to speak at the convention, by the way, after what you saw last night".

Kasich says he'll be an active campaigner around the country for U.S. Senate candidates, for U.S. House candidates and, of course, for Sen. Rob Portman here in Ohio. But as for campaigning for Trump, don't bet on it.

In channeling his inner Frank Sinatra, Kasich says he's done things his way. "I have no regrets about what I've done in my political career."