John Kasich to serve as keynote speaker as GOP Lincoln Day Dinner

(Photo: Chip Somodevilla, 2016 Getty Images)

Presidential candidate Ohio Gov. John Kasich will be the featured guest speaker for this year's Knox County Republican Party's annual Lincoln Day Dinner.

The fund-raising event is set for Feb. 27 at Rothchild Catering & Conference Center on Kingston Pike, according to Knox County GOP Treasurer Nick McBride.

Tickets are $35 and reserved tables, which can seat 10, are $1,000. The center can hold 1,200 people.

Tickets will be available on a first come, first serve basis starting Thursday, and folks can buy them from Republican office holders and GOP party leaders.

The Lincoln Day Dinner is an annual Knox County GOP fund-raising event.

“To be able to do this before the Super Tuesday primary, I’m just excited to do it,” said Knox County GOP

Chairman Buddy Burkhardt.” Even if Kasich is not in the race by then, he will be able to stump for the man he supports."

Burkhardt said he expects an appearance from a  "big name" like Kasich  to help generate interest here in Tennessee for the state’s March 1 election.

Last year, the Lincoln Day Dinner featured Haley Barbour, former chairman of the Republican National Committee and former Mississippi governor.

The event also has featured former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert (R-Illinois), former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson (R-Tennessee), former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich (R-Georgia) and U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina).