His delegate total may be small, but his appetite is huge.
Ohio Gov. John Kasich stopped by the famed Mike's Deli in The Bronx on Thursday afternoon and treated himself to an enormous lunch — without any utensil mistakes this time.
The Republican presidential candidate chowed down on the eatery's pasta fagioli and spaghetti bolognese, as well as the Yankee Stadium Big Boy (mortadella, ham, salami, capicolo, mozzarella, lettuce and peppers), and the JK, named after the Ohio governor himself and containing salami, pepperoni, provolone, pepperoncini, pickles and creamy Italian dressing.
He seemed particularly attached to the spaghetti bolognese, as he stopped the staff from taking it away from him when they first tried.
John Kasich chows down on sandwich during stop in Bronx deli: The Republican White… https://t.co/jfwvB6gISZ #NYC pic.twitter.com/irQ4w4a16L
— NewYork (@NewYorkLoving) April 7, 2016
Kasich also tried the deli's Michelangelo (fresh mozzarella and prosciutto), and he sipped on some homemade wine and sparkling water as well.
@JohnKasich trying to eat lunch in the Bronx and act Italian with 1000 cameras on him is the best reality TV ever. #LaPLAYA #TehLULZ
— Yoda (@YodaLoco) April 7, 2016
Deli owner David Greco said he was not sure yet whether or not he would vote for Kasich, but he would keep his sandwich on the menu for as long as he stays in the race and had no doubts whatsoever about the quality of the candidate's appetite.
"He had a good appetite," Greco said. "I'm very impressed with how much he ate."
Mike Rella, owner of the adjacent Peter's Meat Market, said he was pleasantly surprised that Kasich requested pasta fagioli, which he described as a very down-to-earth selection and a great choice from the menu.
"I'm surprised he asked for that — nothing fancy," he said.
Kasich's visit to The Bronx came one day after fellow Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz stopped by, but while Cruz was greeted with a mixture of protestors and supporters, Kasich was greeted solely with a huge cheer.
Brian Reardon, a 19-year-old sophomore at Fordham, said he was at the event to support Kasich because he viewed him as a moderate who would be able to accomplish things in the nation's capital.
"We need a moderate to actually get things done in Washington," he said.
Kasich said that, to him, New York values meant "innovation, neighborhoods, great food, great people" and expressed confidence that he would do well in the state's upcoming April 19 primary.
"We’re going to pick up delegates here, and we’re going to pick up delegates in Pennsylvania and all over the Northeast and down in Maryland," he said, "and we’re going to go to a convention."
