Former Republican presidential candidate John Kasich defended New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez Wednesday after attacks by presumptive nominee Donald Trump at a rally in the state.
Kasich, the Ohio governor who quit the campaign earlier this month, said on Twitter:
Trump bashed Martinez, who refused to meet with him on his visit to the state on Tuesday,
at a rally in Albuquerque after reading off negative statistics about the state — including an increase in the number of people receiving food stamps.
"We have to get your governor to get going," Trump said. "She's got to do a better job, OK?
"Hey, maybe I'll run for governor of New Mexico," he added. "I'll get this place going."
Elected in 2010, Martinez, 56, is the nation's only Hispanic female governor. She chairs the Republican Governors Association. New Mexico is the nation's most Hispanic state.
She has criticized Trump's remarks on immigrants and has attacked his proposal to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Mike Lonergan, Martinez's press secretary, told
ABC News Wednesday that the governor "will not be bullied into supporting a candidate until she is convinced that candidate will fight for New Mexicans."
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