Protesters, opponents stand to stop Donald Trump at CA GOP Convention
BURLINGAME, Calif. (KABC) -- Hundreds of protesters gathered and broke through barricades outside a Burlingame hotel Friday as Donald Trump addressed the crowd at the California Republican Party Convention.
Gov. John Kasich made his pitch.
"I'm not a big panderer, but I do have to tell you I love California," he said.
Kasich is the only Republican consistently beating Hillary Clinton in national polls and saying he is the positive, unifying candidate.
Kasich and Sen. Ted Cruz are now splitting which states they'll campaign in, hoping to stop Donald Trump.
Kasich talked to Eyewitness News in an exclusive one-on-one interview and said California is a state he is committed to.
"I'm going to be here. There's no way I'm not going to campaign in California. Even if I lose, this is just the greatest thing to come to California," Kasich said.
Earlier, Trump mocked Kasich staying in the race.
"It's a little bit like a spoiled child, 'I don't care mom, I'm staying here,'" Trump joked.
But before Trump could even arrive, protesters locked arms to block the convention's front entrance.
As confrontations intensified between Trump supporters and protesters, the front-runner's motorcade was forced to make a U-turn and walk on-foot to a backdoor.
"That was not the easiest entrance I've ever made," he said. "We went under a fence and through a fence. It felt like we were crossing the border, actually."
Kasich said he doesn't see humor in the chaos.
"That's exactly why I'm staying in the race - because I'm the clear alternative both to Trump and Cruz," he said. "I don't believe our best days are behind us. I don't think we ought to pit one group of people against another."
Kasich confirmed he is in the process of vetting potential picks for vice president. Cruz and his pick for vice president, Carly Fiorina, were expected to address the crowd in Burlingame on Saturday.
