COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – The Ohio Republican Party has formally endorsed Gov. John Kasich’s (KAY’-siks) bid for the White House.

The party’s governing body made its endorsement for president at a meeting Friday morning.

Ohio GOP spokeswoman Brittany Warner says many members of the party’s state central committee already have endorsed Kasich individually and asked to hold an endorsement vote.

Kasich was the only candidate’s name offered for the endorsement. The vote was 44-9.

Ohio’s presidential primary is over two months away, on March 15. Cleveland is hosting the national GOP convention in July.

Kasich was campaigning this week in New Hampshire. He says he believes a top-tier victory in that state’s February primary will help him to break away from the crowded GOP pack.