MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE ¨C U.S. Republican presidential candidate John Kasich is polling in the low single digits nationally but may be poised to play the role of spoiler in Tuesday¡¯s New Hampshire primary by cutting into the support of higher-profile rivals such as Marco Rubio.
The Ohio governor, who is vowing to erase the U.S. budget deficit without shredding the safety net for poor Americans, has built a base of support among moderate Republicans and independent voters, who wield special clout in New Hampshire because they can vote in either party¡¯s primary.
Kasich, 63, has the support of about 12 to 14 percent of New Hampshire¡¯s voters in recent polls. The former congressman has staked the viability of his White House aspirations on New Hampshire, whose pivotal primary is part of the state-by-state contests to pick the party nominees for the Nov. 8 election to replace Democratic President Barack Obama.
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