In a rare Democratic National Convention invite for a Republican, former Ohio Gov. John Kasich, a professed critic of President Donald Trump, stumped for Joe Biden, whom he called a "good man" who will not be pushed around by radical leftists.
"I'm sure there are Republicans and independents who couldn't imagine crossing over to support a Democrat," Kasich said. "They believe he may turn sharp left and leave them behind. I don't believe that. I know the measure of the man. It's reasonable, faithful, respectful, and no one pushes Joe around.
"Joe Biden is a man for our times."
Trump has often claimed Biden's politics are guided by the left-wing of the Democratic Party, but Kasich said he was willing to take a risk.
"I'm a lifelong Republican, but that attachment holds second place to my responsibility to country," he said. "That's why I have chosen to appear in the convention. In normal times something like this would never happen. These are not normal times."
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., was a vocal opponent of Kasich a former Republican governor speaking at the Democratic Party's signature election campaign event. AOC, a voice for the party's Democratic-socialist movement, will be given just 60 seconds to speak later in the week.
Kasich spoke for almost 4 minutes.
AOC tweeted:
"It's great that Kasich has woken up & realized the importance of supporting a Biden-Harris ticket. I hope he gets through to GOP voters. Yet also, something tells me a Republican who fights against women's rights doesn't get to say who is or isn't representative of the Dem party."
She added in another message:
"We can build bridges & not lose sight of our values. It's important to remember that Kasich is an anti-choice extremist. He 100% will (and has) signed away our reproductive rights the moment he has the opportunity to do so. He is not a friend to workers."
Actress Eva Longoria Baston was the emcee Monday night for the event, which opened with a choir signing the national anthem and an evangelical leader delivering the prayer.
Eric Mack ✉
Eric Mack has been a writer and editor at Newsmax since 2016. He is a 1998 Syracuse University journalism graduate and a New York Press Association award-winning writer.
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