Kasich is teaming up with Obama to pass the Pacific trade deal
The TPP, a landmark trade deal with 12 countries bordering the Pacific Ocean, has become a hot button issue in the presidential campaign.
Neither Hillary Clinton nor Donald Trump support the deal, though a recent poll found the majority of Americans do.
Clinton was in favor of the deal when she was Secretary of State, but reversed her position during the primary season, saying it didn't "meet the high bar I have set."
Trump has called the TPP "another disaster done and pushed by special interests who just want to rape our country."
Kasich, also a former Republican presidential candidate, told told CNN's Dana Bash Thursday night that it was "astounding" to him both candidates are "opposed to free trade."
"I think I need to spend my time making the case that we don't want to hurt United States national security issue(s), we don't want to turn our back over there, and frankly, we don't want to put ourselves in a position where we're not taking advantage of economic opportunities," he said on CNN. "If we were to just walk away with this - with both candidates saying they don't want this - we turn our backs on Asia."
Kasich is meeting with Obama Friday morning, according to the president's schedule. Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and IBM CEO Ginni Rometty will also be in attendance, along with several other bipartisan business and national security leaders.
Obama's hoping to pass the TPP before he has to leave office in January, when it may never go into effect with both candidates opposing it.
If Kasich receives political backlash for partnering with Obama on the issue, he said, that's all right.
"I welcome the fact that people will criticize me for putting my country ahead of my party," Kasich said on CNN. "I don't have any idea what I'm going to do with my political future, I really don't. I'm not closing any doors. But I'm not here plotting and scheming what's going to happen down the road."
- A couple accidentally shipped their cat in an Amazon return package. It arrived safely 6 days later, hundreds of miles away.
- A centenarian who starts her day with gentle exercise and loves walks shares 5 longevity tips, including staying single
- 2 states where home prices are falling because there are too many houses and not enough buyers
- "To sit and talk in the box...!" Kohli's message to critics as RCB wrecks GT in IPL Match 45
- 7 Nutritious and flavourful tiffin ideas to pack for school
- India's e-commerce market set to skyrocket as the country's digital economy surges to USD 1 Trillion by 2030
- Top 5 places to visit near Rishikesh
- Indian economy remains in bright spot: Ministry of Finance
- JNK India IPO allotment date
- JioCinema New Plans
- Realme Narzo 70 Launched
- Apple Let Loose event
- Elon Musk Apology
- RIL cash flows
- Charlie Munger
- Feedbank IPO allotment
- Tata IPO allotment
- Most generous retirement plans
- Broadcom lays off
- Cibil Score vs Cibil Report
- Birla and Bajaj in top Richest
- Nestle Sept 2023 report
- India Equity Market