President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE on Monday\u00a0accused Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) of “tamping down enthusiasm” for\u00a0Republican House candidate Troy Balderson.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“The very unpopular Governor of Ohio (and failed presidential candidate [John Kasich] hurt Troy Balderson\u2019s recent win by tamping down enthusiasm for an otherwise great candidate,” Trump tweeted on Monday afternoon. “Even Kasich\u2019s Lt. Governor lost Gov. race because of his unpopularity. Credit to Troy on the BIG WIN!”\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nThe very unpopular Governor of Ohio (and failed presidential candidate) @JohnKasich hurt Troy Balderson\u2019s recent win by tamping down enthusiasm for an otherwise great candidate. Even Kasich\u2019s Lt. Governor lost Gov. race because of his unpopularity. Credit to Troy on the BIG WIN!<\/p>\n
\u2014 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 13, 2018<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Balderson currently holds a razor-thin lead over his Democratic opponent, Danny O’Connor, for the House seat in Ohio’s 12th Congressional District, which has gone to Republicans for decades.<\/p>\n
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Kasich, an outspoken Trump critic and former GOP presidential candidate, endorsed Balderson over O’Connor before the special election, a blow to the Democrat’s campaign strategy of appealing to moderate Republicans who supported the governor.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kasich last week said\u00a0he believes the\u00a0close results of the special election in\u00a0the historically Republican district reflect\u00a0how\u00a0voters feel about Trump.<\/p>\n
“Neither of them really emerged great, and I think it was basically a vote on what people thought about Trump,” Kasich said.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n