Ohio Gov. John Kasich Calls Trump's Rigged Election Rhetoric 'Silly'

COLUMBUS, OH — Governor John Kasich is once again criticizing his party's nominee, this time lambasting Donald Trump's claims that the presidential election is rigged. Kasich repeatedly called the claims "silly" during a television interview.

The governor appeared on CBS Wednesday and was asked whether or not he thought the 2016 election was rigged against Trump. Kasich said in response, "No. I've run statewide in Ohio. My first election was extremely close. Look, to say elections are rigged and all these votes are stolen, that's like saying we never landed on the moon, frankly. That's how silly it is."

He followed up by saying that Trump's claims hurt the nation's democracy and widespread fraud claims were "silly arguments."

"The problem is that it does create doubt in people's minds. I worry about the 25 percent of Americans who may say, when an election is over, that it was stolen. That is a big fat joke," Kasich said.

The governor also reiterated that he will not vote for his party's nominee come Nov. 8, though he was coy about who he would be voting for. He denied that he would cast a vote for Hillary Clinton, and joked that he would write in one of the morning show hosts.

This controversy has blossomed shortly before the third and final presidential debate on Wednesday night. Patch political writer Allen McDuffee says this is a debate that has a chance to be the most entertaining of the series, as Trump continues to swing wildly at Clinton, the media, House Speaker Paul Ryan and the Republican establishment. You can watch a live stream of the debate on Patch.

Trump is taking his message of fraud on the road, using it in stump speeches in Colorado and on Twitter.

"Voter fraud is all too common, and then they criticize us for saying that," Trump said at a Tuesday rally in Colorado Springs, Colorado. "But take a look at Philadelphia, what’s been going on, take a look at Chicago, take a look at St. Louis. Take a look at some of these cities, where you see things happening that are horrendous."

You can see Kasich's interview on the topic of rigged elections below:

Photo courtesy of Governor Kasich's office