MILWAUKEE — Donald Trump on Sunday called for John Kasich to drop out of the Republican presidential race, arguing that the Ohio governor shouldn’t be allowed to continue accumulating delegates if he has no chance of becoming the nominee.
Working to recover his edge after a difficult week, Trump said it wasn’t fair for Kasich, who has won only his home state, to continue his campaign. He suggested instead that Kasich, who has pledged to make it to the summer convention, follow the example of Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush — candidates who quit after lagging behind.
‘‘He doesn’t have to run and take my votes,’’ he said.
Trump said Kasich could ask to be considered at the GOP convention in Cleveland in July even without competing in the remaining nominating contests. He added that he had relayed his concerns to Republican National Committee officials at a meeting in Washington this past week.
‘‘I said, ‘Why is a guy allowed to run?’ All he’s doing is just he goes from place to place and loses,’’ Trump told reporters at Miss Katie’s Diner in Milwaukee, where he stopped for breakfast. The state holds its presidential primaries Tuesday.
Kasich’s campaign tried to flip the script, contending that neither Trump nor Senator Ted Cruz of Texas would have enough delegates to win the nomination outright going into the Cleveland.
‘‘Since he thinks it’s such a good idea, we look forward to Trump dropping out before the convention,’’ said Kasich spokesman Chris Schrimpf.
On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton criticized her opponent, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who has identified as an independent for most of his career. ‘‘We have to have a Democrat succeed Barack Obama,’’ Clinton said during a series of stops at Brooklyn churches.
Clinton also criticized Sanders on Saturday for not being a longtime member of the party and for not fund-raising for other Democrats.
“I am also a Democrat and have been a proud Democrat all my adult life,’’ Clinton said at a campaign event in Eau Claire, Wis. “And I think that’s kind of important if we’re selecting someone to be the Democratic nominee.’’
Clinton added that being a strong candidate for president means helping other Democrats win national office. The Hillary Victory Fund, which raised almost $27 million in 2015, divides up cash between Clinton’s campaign for the White House, the Democratic National Committee, and nearly three dozen state Democratic parties.
Sanders was asked on ABC’s “This Week’’ about Clinton’s fund-raising comment. “I think the secretary is getting very nervous,’’ he replied.
Sanders is campaigning in Wisconsin until the Tuesday primary, when he plans to extend he recent string of campaign victories. He also predicted that he will do better than expected against Clinton in New York, which votes on April 19.
Trump’s call for Kasich to quit the race came as Republican concerns grew about the prospect of convention chaos if Trump fails to lock up his party’s nomination — or even if he does.
Behind Cruz in the polls in Wisconsin, Trump faces the prospect that a loss Tuesday will raise further doubts that he can net the needed delegates, making it far easier for his party to oust him in a floor fight at the convention.
Cruz, Trump’s closest challenger, has only a small chance to overtake him in the delegate hunt before the convention. He spent his afternoon rallying supporters in Wisconsin in an event heavy with references to the state’s beloved Green Bay Packers.
Kasich has acknowledged he cannot catch up in the delegate race, leaving a contested convention his only path to victory. He has faced calls in the past to step aside, but those nudges became less frequent after his decisive victory last month in his home state.
Still, Kasich suggested that a contested convention would not involve the chaos that party leaders fear.
‘‘Kids will spend less time focusing on Bieber and Kardashian and more time focusing on how we elect presidents,’’ Kasich told ABC. ‘‘It will be so cool.’’
Republicans fear an unseemly internal fight would damage the party in November’s general election.
