FAIRFIELD -- Republican presidential candidate John Kasich drew a standing-room only-crowd at his first major event in Connecticut on Friday.
Sacred Heart University hosted the Ohio governor for a little less than two hours, during which Kasich made a speech and took questions.
Kasich touched on jobs, the economic and tax policy, at one point making a jab at Hartford.
"Connecticut needs to get its income tax down and it needs to stop punishing businesses," Kasich said.
His visit comes 2 1/2 weeks ahead of the primaries in Constitution State. Sacred Heart political science professor, Dr. Gary Rose, sees this as a strategy.
"It makes a lot of sense. It does because it shows that he is very committed to Connecticut. He also will obviously, here in Fairfield County, I'm sure it's going to help his fundraising," said Rose, who predicts Kasich will do well in the April 26 primary, in part, because he says Connecticut Republicans tend to be more moderate like Kasich.
Despite the state's mere 28 Republican delegates, Rose said Connecticut is shaping up to be a player in the national race.
"With the prospect of Donald Trump not possibly reaching 1,237 delegates, then every delegate that one candidate wins, such as John Kasich, becomes highly relevant at that convention," said Rose.
Some at the Friday Town Hall were too young to reach for a ballot.
"It's great to be part of it and it's just like, part of being a true American," said 11-year-old Christopher Noland.
Max Lee, 16, stopped by, too.
"I can't actually vote but I am very interested in politics," he said, adding that he was eager to see "the process" play out in real life.
At least some of the 18-and-up attendees said they were undecided walking in the door.
"After today, I am really leaning more towards him," said Theresa Gontaren of North Haven.
FOX 61 asked Kasich if he will return to Connecticut.
"Oh, I think we'll probably come back!" he said.