Sam Wang: “Kasich has no path to getting a majority of delegates. However, he does have a way to prevent Trump from getting a majority. That would be to completely withdraw from winner-take-all states. In fact, he should say so publicly, the way that Rubio pulled out of Ohio last week. In these states, he divides the ‘non-Trump’ voter bloc, which polling suggests is about 55-60% of Republican voters. Therefore if Kasich does not drain support from Cruz, Cruz can win those states’ delegates.”

“Kasich should still campaign in the remaining proportional states, which are: Utah, New England (New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island), the Pacific Northwest (Oregon and Washington), and New Mexico.”

A panel of political insiders in seven battleground states tell Politico that Gov. John Kasich “would be the most palatable of the three remaining Republican presidential candidates in a contested convention, despite the fact the Ohio governor is last in delegates and the only one mathematically eliminated from clinching a majority before the July convention.”

“The verdict was hardly unanimous: Only a 45-percent plurality of GOP insiders said Kasich was most acceptable, with the others divided between Ted Cruz (33 percent) and Donald Trump (22 percent).”

Strategists for Gov. John Kasich “are studying arcane party rules that they believe could offer a path to the Republican nomination if he wins his home state,” Reuters reports.

“It is a long-shot strategy, both for Kasich and the anti-Trump forces inside the party. But if fellow GOP candidate Marco Rubio loses his own state of Florida on Tuesday – as polls predict – a surge by Kasich may be the only viable strategy for Republicans looking to stop Trump from getting the 1,237 delegates needed to clinch the nomination.”

“Kasich supporters are betting that an Ohio win will give his candidacy its first real momentum, attracting donors and endorsements. From there, he could score more victories in upcoming primaries in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Wisconsin, Connecticut and California, states where Kasich polls favorably.”

Gov. John Kasich told the Washington Post that he would not necessarily need to build a delegate lead to win the Republican presidential nomination at the convention.

Said Kasich: “The delegates will be smart, and they’ll figure it out. I was at a convention where Ronald Reagan challenged Gerald Ford. Ford won and the party was unified. But, you know, to say – I have more than you, therefore I should get it? Go out and earn it! Don’t be whining about how it’s gonna work. Go get what you need to be the legitimate winner!”

Gov. John Kasich knows “his only road to the Republican presidential nomination runs through a contested GOP convention this summer, and he doesn’t think there’s anything wrong with that,” Politico reports.

Said Kasich: “What’s the big deal about that, other than it’s exciting? Think about how much education our kids are going to get, about the way in which we pick a president… I think it will be very cool.”

“As a bewildered Republican establishment frets over a divided field enabling Donald Trump to secure their party’s nomination, John Kasich isn’t all that concerned — and he’s certainly not falling in line amidst calls for him to quit so the party can unite behind a single alternative to Trump,” Politico reports.

Said Kasich: “If we win Ohio, then we’re probably going to go to a convention. It’s going to be the most exciting time.”

Gov. John Kasich told Fox Business that there is “zero chance” he would consider being someone’s vice presidential running mate.

BuzzFeed: “Republican insiders say prominent figures within the party are going to be putting more pressure on Kasich — and his supporters — in the coming days, with some even making public calls for him to drop out. Mitt Romney has already reportedly tried to push Kasich out of the race, to little avail.”

Said one GOP insider: “You have to believe Kasich has made a deal with the devil. Why else is he still in the race? Kasich needs to look GOP voters in the eye and tell us whether he has a deal — explicit or implicit — with Donald Trump for a spot on the ticket.”