New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie joined Kasich at a crane company in Independence. Christie is the chairman of the Republican Governor's Association and has been campaigning for a number of GOP colleagues.
Christie, Kasich, and Sen. Rob Portman -- who also spoke at the event -- have all been mentioned as possible contenders for the White House.
Christie said Kasich held fast to conservative principles, but also wanted an expansive Republican Party.
"But (he) wants our party to be bigger and better than it's ever been before," Christie said. "Wants our party to be the party that knows how to reach across the aisle and get to compromise. Wants our party to be the one that governs."
Kasich said a second-term administration would advocate what he termed personal responsibility for low-income Ohioans. And he said he'd encourage the better off to assist people in need -- apart from government intervention.
"We're going to get you involved," Kasich told supporters. "You, the values that you have of personal responsibility and discipline and hard work and loving your neighbor. We need to transfer these values to some of those that are confused about it."
The event was billed as a get-out-the-vote rally. But just it got underway, the U.S. Supreme Court announced it was staying a federal ruling that set this week as the start of early voting in Ohio. That news was a victory in court for Republicans who appealed the ruling, but it received only a passing mention by speakers.
Democrats criticized Republicans for holding a voting rally while pushing for the stay.
