John Kasich Makes It Official

in 2016 Race

JULY 21, 2015

Kasich2Gov. John Kasich (R-OH) announced today that he is a candidate for the Republican nomination for President.  Kasich becomes the 16th GOP candidate for the nomination and the 21st candidate overall seeking a major party nomination.

Kasich is entering the fray very late and suffers from limited name recognition, but make no mistake, he is a major player, on paper at least.  Here’s his stats:

  • 60% approval rating in his home state. (GOP Govs. Chris Christie & Scott Walker don’t come near.)
  • Achieved a $2 billion surplus for Ohio.  (Christie and Walker don’t come near.)
  • Former Fox News host.

So far he’s right in the GOP pundit wheelhouse.  But the only problem with being a governor is that, as governor, you have to serve all the people.  So John Kasich also holds these positions:

  • Favors the Assault Weapons Ban, voting for it as a 9-term Congressman.
  • Supports Common Core.
  • Open to a path to citizenship for undocumented workers.
  • Urged the GOP to move on from the same-sex marriage debate.
  • Only 1 of 10 Republican governors who expanded Medicaid coverage for the poor.

Uh-oh.  This guy could be a general-election beast, perfectly in tune with the American electorate on these sensitive issues.  But can he run the gauntlet through Iowa and South Carolina with its evangelical voters?  Right now, it’s doubtful.

Unfortunately for Kasich, he’s entering the race at its sideshow height, with Donald Trump totally stepping on Kasich’s big announcement today with his own major revelation of Lindsey Graham’s personal cell-phone number.  Seriously.

John Kasich is a contender.  If only the Republicans could see that.