Three New Hampshire newspapers are endorsing Ohio Gov. John Kasich for president as the Republican aspires to a top-tier primary finish there.
The Nashua Telegraph, Foster's Daily Democrat and Portsmouth Herald all threw their support behind Kasich in Sunday editions.
The Nashua paper called Kasich a "pragmatic problem-solver" with executive experience. The other two newspapers note Kasich "is not the flashiest candidate in the field," but say he's best qualified because of his effective leadership as a congressman and governor.
"He opted not to become a congressional lifer, evidence that while Kasich was indoctrinated in the Washington culture, he was not infected by it," the Telegraph endorsement said.
The papers' support comes as Kasich continues to struggle to gain traction and name recognition nationally amid a crowded GOP field led by billionaire businessman Donald Trump.
U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, of Cincinnati; the Ohio House speaker and Ohio's state Republican party all got behind Kasich's presidential bid last week. Kasich also landed among six presidential candidates of both parties that No Labels determined support its policy agenda: creating 25 million new jobs over the next decade, securing Social Security and Medicare for the next 75 years, balancing the federal budget by 2030 and making the United States energy secure by 2024.
Most of Ohio's GOP statewide officeholders already have endorsed Kasich, with the exception of State Treasurer Josh Mandel, who is supporting Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for the White House.
Speaker Cliff Rosenberger previously worked in the administration of President George W. Bush, whose brother Jeb is among Kasich's rivals for the Republican nomination.
Rosenberger, of Clarksville, said in a statement that Kasich has demonstrated he will never back down from a challenge and is not intimidated by the call to lead.
Kasich's campaign said Rosenberger will serve as an Ohio co-chair of the campaign.
