Kasich pitches himself as a sturdy alternative to GOP rivals

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Often an afterthought in the chaotic GOP presidential contest, John Kasich is soldiering on with the belief that he can convince hundreds of delegates to swing his way at a contested summer convention by warning that the alternative could be detrimental to the party and the country.

Kasich's fight to win the GOP nomination remains feasible only if Donald Trump enters the convention in Cleveland without the number of delegates required to secure the nomination outright.

Biundo has been working to build a 50-state delegate strategy aimed at convincing delegates — many of whom are longtime party leaders or elected officials — that Kasich is the most electable Republican.

"Primary voters don't care that much about electability — but delegates and party leaders do," said Charlie Black, another veteran GOP operative who recently joined the campaign to help with national strategy.

Tom Ingram, who joined Kasich's team after Jeb Bush dropped out and has experience running GOP political campaigns, said he hopes to see Kasich bring more fire to the trail as the stakes rise.