Former candidate Kasich meeting with Illinois delegates as convention opens
John Kasich's planned visit with the Illinois delegation today at the Republican National Convention comes as something of a consolation prize to both the former candidate and some of the delegates.
Kasich is one of the few candidates with elected delegates in the Illinois group, having fared better than presumptive nominee Donald Trump in the state's March primary among voters in some parts of the Chicago area.
Among his primary backers in the Illinois delegation: state Rep. David Harris of Arlington Heights, former Cook County GOP Chairman Aaron Del Mar of Palatine and former state party Chairman Pat Brady of St. Charles.
Del Mar wasn't elected but was chosen later as part of the state's group of at-large delegates who are committed to vote for Trump because of his primary victory in Illinois.
Brady had been at the front of the push to upend Trump's nomination, but the rules changes that could have made that possible failed last week.
Kasich didn't get the main stage speaking role other former Trump rivals did. Dr. Ben Carson and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will speak Tuesday on the main stage. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who spent time in the suburbs before the March primary, is set to speak on the main stage Wednesday.
Tonight's lineup features potential first lady Melania Trump, the first of numerous Trumps speaking this week, and takes a Benghazi focus with “Lone Survivor” co-author Marcus Luttrell, as well as speeches from Benghazi survivors and the mother of Sean Smith, who was killed in the attack.