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Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said Monday the rationale for their decision to coordinate campaign strategy -- for now -- is an effort to stop Donald Trump from winning the Republican nomination because they fear he would lose to Hillary Clinton in a general election matchup.
The two candidates unveiled nearly identical talking points in defending their decision to strategically invest in states and stay out of each others' way -- even as they took shots at each other.
"What's the big deal?" Kasich said at a Philadelphia diner on Monday as reporters peppered him questions about his decision to skip campaigning in Indiana, ceding the territory to Cruz.
The governor himself brushed off the interest in the two campaigns' sudden decision to map out a mutually beneficial course -- and criticism that it was an inappropriate alliance.
"I'm not campaigning in Indiana and he's not campaigning in these other states, that's all. It's not a big deal," Kasich said.
Meanwhile, the Texas senator on Monday praised his opponent for getting out of his way in the Hoosier State, which votes next week, calling it important in the effort to stop the GOP front-runner Trump.
"After discussions with the Kasich campaign, we made a decision to allocate our resources," he told reporters in Indiana. "I think that made sense for both campaigns."
Cruz repeated the message from his campaign that it is focusing its resources strategically and investing heavily in Indiana, citing a desire to stop Clinton from winning the White House.
Ted Cruz, John Kasich: Donald Trump would lose to Hillary Clinton - CNNPolitics.com
The two candidates unveiled nearly identical talking points in defending their decision to strategically invest in states and stay out of each others' way -- even as they took shots at each other.
"What's the big deal?" Kasich said at a Philadelphia diner on Monday as reporters peppered him questions about his decision to skip campaigning in Indiana, ceding the territory to Cruz.
The governor himself brushed off the interest in the two campaigns' sudden decision to map out a mutually beneficial course -- and criticism that it was an inappropriate alliance.
"I'm not campaigning in Indiana and he's not campaigning in these other states, that's all. It's not a big deal," Kasich said.
Meanwhile, the Texas senator on Monday praised his opponent for getting out of his way in the Hoosier State, which votes next week, calling it important in the effort to stop the GOP front-runner Trump.
"After discussions with the Kasich campaign, we made a decision to allocate our resources," he told reporters in Indiana. "I think that made sense for both campaigns."
Cruz repeated the message from his campaign that it is focusing its resources strategically and investing heavily in Indiana, citing a desire to stop Clinton from winning the White House.
Ted Cruz, John Kasich: Donald Trump would lose to Hillary Clinton - CNNPolitics.com
