2016 Michigan Presidential Primary: Clinton, Kasich Endorsed

Former secretary of state Hillary Clinton and Ohio Gov. John Kasich picked up endorsements from the Detroit Free Press Sunday in Michigan’s March 8 Democratic and Republican primaries.

“Not since then-Vice President George Bush won the Republican nomination in 1992 has either major party offered voters a candidate with such a breadth of experience in federal government,” the newspaper said of Clinton, Democrats’ presumed nominee.

“Besides playing an enormous policy-making role during her husband’s two terms in the White House, Clinton has served more than capably as a U.S. Senator and cabinet officer, presiding over President Barack Obama’s State Department during one of the most challenging and dangerous intervals since the Vietnam War.”

Of Republican Kasich, the Free Press editorial board said:

“Kasich has made much hay of his ability to enlist bipartisan support for his policy objectives. And, for the most part, this is true during his time in Congress, where he was instrumental in the passage of a bipartisan budget deal, and in Ohio’s statehouse.

“His unpretentious policy wonk persona allows him to begin conversations his more combative competitors wouldn’t indulge the necessity of; his willingness to absorb other information and viewpoints mean his counterparts are likely to find engaging in such conversations worthwhile.”

Clinton had a huge night in South Carolina Saturday, defeating rival Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders the Palmetto State 73.5 to 25.9 percent.

The two will debate March 6 in Flint, two days before the primary. The debate will be held at The Whiting Auditorium.

Kasich has struggled in the early voting contests so far. He finished second in New Hampshire to real estate tycoon Donald Trump, but in the single digits in Iowa, South Carolina and Nevada.

The Republican candidates will debate Thursday, March 3, in Detroit. The debate will be held at the Fox Theatre.

» Photos by Gage Skidmore via Flickr / Creative Commons