Meet John Kasich, the Gleeful Spoiler from Ohio [Montage]

If there were a way to become a nominee for president by winning one state primary and placing second in another, John Kasich would have a very solid shot at becoming the 2016 Republican nominee.

As Kasich likes to say, no one gave him a chance when he first announced his candidacy. And after posting an 0-23 record thus far, it appears the pundits' pessimism was well-founded. 

But that isn't blunting Kasich's self-confidence. He told CBS his campaign has "exceeded expectations" and is carrying on.

When Michael Smerconish asked if he would leave the race were it "the only way to deny Donald Trump the nomination," Kasich said, no, "I would never believe I am not going to be the nominee."

CBS's John Dickerson tried pressing him on this same point, asking, “Only until there becomes one mainstream alternative to Donald Trump is there any chance for Trump to get knocked off by people whose — whose beliefs they share. So why aren’t you just continuing to split the vote with Marco Rubio?”

Kasich responded he's just as entitled to remain in the race as Rubio -- since he "finished second in New Hampshire."

When CNN asked about calls to drop out so he can help the chances of Republicans nominating someone other than Trump, Kasich laughed, "I think it's funny, I think it's ridiculous."

"People want to consolidate," Kasich said in another interview. "They ought to consolidate my way."

When a townhall participant told Kasich he supports his candidacy but doesn't understand how he can win if he's not going to target his competitors, Kasich responded, in perhaps his most honest moment on the campaign trail, "I'm not sure if my purpose is to be president."