With Election Days Away, Kasich Touts Issue 2 in Northeast Ohio

Gov. John Kasich came to the Cleveland area Thursday to rally a crowd of supporters days away from a crucial vote on .

Kasich is on a tour around the state to rally support for Issue 2, the ballot name for Senate Bill 5, the law that would restrict collective bargaining for public sector unions. Ohio voters will decide the fate of Issue 2 on Nov. 8.

Speaking at a Building a Better Ohio event in Independence, Kasich linked the reforms in Issue 2 with the his larger goal of making Ohio more business friendly by removing unnecessary regulations and keeping taxes low.

Kasich argued that Issue 2 will help local governments "get their act together" because it gives local officials "the tools they need" to control costs.

"You need to tell your friends and your neighbors and get out and support this thing," Kasich said. "Because we would now give the communities the tools they need to control their costs. And when they control their costs, then we'll have more jobs."

Kasich said he believes the state of Ohio has been getting its "act together." Now it's time for local governments to join in, and Issue 2 will help them do that.

"So we can work together and create these jobs," he said.

Kasich told the media that he didn't know what the outcome would be, calling it a "tough, uphill battle." He struck a more hopeful tone to close his remarks.

"We are winning, there's no question about it," Kasich said. "And win or lose on Tuesday, we're going to keep going."

The crowd inside loved it. The crowd outside? Not so much. Opponents of Issue 2 surrounded the building while the governor spoke, pressing against yellow police tape while waving signs and chanting slogans into megaphones. 

One of them got inside.

"Layoff more people!" a woman screamed from the crowd, interrupting Kasich while he spoke about the state budget. "That's what you decided!"

She kept yelling until some men lead her outside. Kasich tried to calm the crowd by telling them that "everyone has the right to speak" and that the woman was "frustrated."

The interruption provided the governor a moment to reflect on the divisiveness of the Issue 2 fight, which reminds him of the 1970s.

"Crowds outside, crowds inside," Kasich joked. "Ohio is happening. It's no longer asleep in Ohio. People are waking up, we're coming alive!"

Kasich left the stage to a chorus of cheers. His car pulled from the parking lot to a volley of boos.