Although not as well-known as his fellow GOP presidential hopefuls, John Kasich, the current governor of Ohio, has been holding steady in the race.

According to a poll conducted for Augusta Chronicle, Kasich has 9 percent of South Carolina Republican primary voters. To put this in perspective, the same poll shows Donald Trump is on top with 36 percent, while Ted Cruz has 19 percent and Ben Carson is at 5 percent.

With this in mind, Latin Post looks at where the 63-year-old candidate stands on core issues.

Immigration & Border Security

Kasich, who has said the U.S. should finish construction on a border fence along Mexico, says, if elected president, he would crack down on illegal immigration but would provide immigrants already living in the U.S. a pathway to citizenship.

In a 2015 CNN interview, Kasich said immigrants contributed a great deal to America. "They're hard workers, they're God-fearing, they're family-oriented. If they committed a crime, they've got to be deported or put in prison, but the only reason I say that is we have to solve this," said Kasich.

The governor differs from more anti-immigrant candidates such as Trump and Cruz, by his ability to be comparably malleable on the subject. “I'm just not going to pound the table on all these things and say my way or the highway," he said.

Taxes

According to Kasich’s official site, his plans to invigorate the U.S. economy would involve cutting taxes, which is something Kasich has a record of doing.

Since becoming governor of Ohio, Kasich has cut $5 billion in taxes by doing away with the death tax, reducing the state income tax by 16 percent, and making a special effort to eliminate the income tax for small businesses.

While campaigning in New Hampshire, Kasich told his supporters that fiscal restraint was something missing in Washington. As quoted in the Lowell’s Sun, he said, "We must cut taxes to stimulate the economy. People won't create jobs because they're worried about this (debt).”

Kasich claims that under his leadership Ohio is currently running a surplus.

Education

Regarding education, Kasich says the responsibility of upholding academic standards should be a local concern that should not be micromanaged by federal bureaucrats.

According to his site, Kasich believes lesson plans and textbooks choices should all be up to the local school districts. As president, Kasich would defend schools against the threat of federal intrusion infringing on their educational rights and freedoms.

Aside from protecting the rights of local school districts, Kasich would seek to incorporate the ideas of parents and educational leaders alike in order to best inform his education policies. He would also support alternative pathways to graduation such as homeschooling, while making school vouchers available to all eligible students.

Health Care

In line with his fellow Republican candidates, Kasich views Obamacare as an expensive failure.

Kasich believes Obamacare must be repealed and replaced with a program that would manage to lower the costs of health care yet stay outside of a patient's personal health decisions.

According to Kasich, one reason the Affordable Healthcare Act fails is because it prioritizes treating symptoms rather than solving the underlying problems, which lead to disease. As his site informs, the candidate would seek to overhaul Obamacare by first implementing a primary care system that would promote long term wellness instead of merely just reacting to the patient’s illness. This preventative action would not only help patients in the long run but would help control medical costs as well.

Kasich also believes health care costs could be brought down if everyone involved in a specific procedure, from the surgeons to the rehabilitation therapists, were considered as a whole and billed accordingly.

Gun Rights

Kasich, a gun owner, is a strong supporter of the right to bear arms.

Due to his recent efforts to uphold the second amendment, Kasich’s 2014 gubernatorial reelection campaign was endorsed by the National Rifle Association.

According to his site, Kasich states President Obama’s executive orders regarding gun control are a hindrance to a citizen’s right to keep and bear arms.

Kasich's views on guns have changed in recent years.

In 1994 he received much criticism from the NRA for joining with other House members to ban the production and sale of 19 semi-automatic assault weapons.

As quoted in The Columbus Dispatch, Lars Dalseide, a spokesman for the NRA, praised Kasich’s recent more pro-gun stance. “Gov. Kasich’s position on firearms, especially when addressing concealed carry and transportation issues, has shifted to reflect a more respectful view of the Second Amendment and law-abiding citizens’ right to exercise their constitutional freedoms,” said Dalseide.

Terrorism & Defense

Kasich feels there is no room to negotiate with terrorist groups such as ISIS.

His plan for defeating ISIS involves strengthening the U.S. military, working with U.S. allies in order to combat common threats, and globally spreading the concept of democracy.

Kasich says the military must be reviewed and strengthened. He has called for a $102 billion increase in defense spending over the next eight years in order to improve capabilities and create new cyber defenses. The governor wants the U.S. to review its alliances and marshal its public diplomacy in order to spread ideas of freedom and democracy.

In a 2015 CNN interview, Kasich said that the fight against ISIS would eventually require U.S. boots on the ground. "I think that the Western world needs to be united, and we need to invite our friends in the Arab world together, and we do need to develop a plan," he added.

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