Kasich tackles budget, security issues, stressing experience

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. – Republican presidential contender John Kasich focused a town hall-style meeting on the art of getting things done in government, pointing to his track record as governor of Ohio since 2011, and expounded on terrorism and Middle East turmoil.

Kasich, who trails in Granite State voter opinion polls, told nearly 100 people at the meeting Sunday that the biggest threats to the nation today are terrorism spawned by Middle East conflicts and government overspending. He outlined his experience related to both: He led efforts to craft a balanced budget as chairman of the Budget Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives, turned an $8 billion Ohio deficit into a $2 billion surplus as governor, and served for 18 years on the House Armed Services Committee.