REUTERS/Chris Keane
Donald Trump speaks during a town hall campaign event in Hickory, North Carolina March 14, 2016.
In a series of tweets, Trump tore into Ohio Gov. John Kasich over his support for the North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement, his stance on illegal immigration, and his losses in other state primaries and caucuses.
He also retweeted his son Eric, who said it would be impossible for Kasich to win the delegates he needs to secure the Republican nomination.
Trump is going after Kasich in the hours before Ohio voters cast their ballots in the state's winner-take-all primary. Sixty-six delegates are up for grabs. Florida, another big winner-take-all state with 99 delegates, also holds its primary on Tuesday, along with Illinois, Missouri, and North Carolina.
Trump is the clear frontrunner in the Republican race, but Kasich's campaign has been gathering steam. Recent polling in Ohio shows that the governor has a chance of beating Trump there, which could further the Kasich campaign's hopes for a contested convention in July.
Here's a look at what Trump was tweeting (and retweeting) on Tuesday:
North Carolina lost 300,000 manufacturing jobs and Ohio lost 400,000 since 2000. Going to Mexico etc. NO MORE IF I WIN, WE WILL BRING BACK!
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 15, 2016
Mathematically it is statistically impossible for Kasich to get to 1237 - he would need 112% of the remaining delegates to be the nominee!
- Eric Trump (@EricTrump) March 15, 2016
Watching John Kasich being interviewed - acting so innocent and like such a nice guy. Remember him in second debate, until I put him down.
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 15, 2016
Ohio is losing jobs to Mexico, now losing Ford (and many others). Kasich is weak on illegal immigration. We need strong borders now!
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 15, 2016
In presidential voting so far, John Kasich is ZERO for 22. So why would he be a good candidate? Hillary would beat him, I will beat Hillary!
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 15, 2016
I will bring our jobs back to the U.S., and keep our companies from leaving. Nobody else can do it. Our economy will "sing" again.
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 15, 2016
Ohio and Florida are crucial for Trump's plan to wrap up the GOP nomination quickly, and he has invested a lot of his time in both states.
Politico noted that the two primaries "will determine whether there's chaos or a coronation at the Cleveland convention" in July. Top GOP operatives have reportedly been discussing the possibility of a contested convention, in which the nomination is decided on the convention floor.