John Kasich holds town hall in Utica, lays out 100-day plan for office

UTICA, Mich. (WJBK) - Presidential hopefuls visit metro Detroit on this President's Day as both Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders and Republican candidate John Kasich were in town Monday.

Kasich was in Utica where Kasich held a town hall.   Among other things Kasich said he'd cut taxes, simplify the tax code, reform the Pentagon  and come up with a plan to save Social Security all in his first 100 days in office.

It is an ambitious plan, some would argue too ambitious - but people there Monday night believe he could pull it off if elected.

For Ohio Gov. John Kasich, the road to Washington D.C. runs through Michigan.

He turned on the charm and talked up his faith and old school values, the Ohio State grad even appealed to Michigan fans when talking about heroes.

"Bo Schembechler," he said to the crowd. "I love that."

When it came time for the Q & A, Kasich laid out an ambitious plan for his first 100 days in office if elected president.

"I want to send a package," he said. "No more federal regulations unless it is on health and safety for a year. I want to say Congress has to vote on everything of $100 million and above. I want to unwind some of the federal regulations that have hurt the small business."

He spoke to a crowd of roughly 500 people at a town hall meeting in Macomb County, tackling a wide range of issues from taking care of veterans to immigration. From defeating ISIS to President  Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act.

"What we have to make sure is when we repeal Obama Care we don't have tens of millions of Americans losing their health insurance," he said. "What we will do is take some federal resources and combine it with the Medicaid programs in the states and be able to cover the working poor and have all these people losing their health care."

Kasich is riding high after an impressive showing in New Hampshire and coming in second-albeit a distance second- to Donald Trump in South Carolina polls.

He has stayed above the fray in debates and avoided the drama and controversy that's characterized the GOP presidential race.

And that's part of the reason he's striking a chord with these voters.

From here Gov. John Kasich is headed to South Carolina where the primary there is Saturday.