Kasich Mulls Independent Bid for President

[brooklynite]

Source: Political Wire

Gov. John Kasich’s (R) “brand is built around the idea of ‘two paths’ for the Republican Party: one for center-right pragmatists like him, the other for flamethrowers like Donald Trump,” BuzzFeed News reports.

“But as the Ohio governor considers a rematch with Trump in 2020, he is weighing two more-tactical paths. Does he challenge Trump, the sitting president, in primaries where Kasich won’t find much institutional GOP support? Or does he leave the party, go down a route littered with ballot-access hurdles and fundraising challenges, and run as an independent?”

“Sources close to Kasich’s political team have told BuzzFeed News in recent weeks that both options are in play.”

Read more: https://politicalwire.com/2018/02/14/kasich-mulls-independent-bid-president/

[bucolic_frolic]

1. He may have centrist tendencies on some issues

but on others he's just another right wing pro-business moron

[NewJeffCT]

15. Yes

he's just more soft-spoken than Trump, Cruz, Christie, Giuliani and some others.

[YOHABLO]

2. Well we all knew this was coming.

[MANative]

3. It's infuriating that tRump is so insane that he makes a guy like Kasich look...

acceptable by comparison. No thanks, Johnny.

[dalton99a]

4. 10 Reasons Why John Kasich Is As Rabidly Right-Wing as the Rest of the GOP

https://www.alternet.org/election-2016/10-reasons-why-john-kasich-rabidly-right-wing-rest-gop-presidential-candidate-pack

[StevieM]

13. Great post. Kasich is a hard-core right-winger. People need to be reminded of that. (eom)

[n2doc]

5. A man only sensible woodchucks could love

[Bradshaw3]

6. Don't care if he's right wing if he would split the repub vote

Think it would help Dems so I'd be for it.

[getagrip_already]

7. if he only runs in swing states that will work.....

Take 2-3 points off te top for trump and he goes down hard. Not that he really has a shot at this point, but he believes he does, and he will get the nomination if he decides to go for it.

As long as we don't nominate someone who ran in 2016, we stand a good chance, but a third party pulling r votes couldn't hurt.

[Saviolo]

8. Oh, I hope he runs.

He might just pull enough GOPers that are disgusted with Trump's antics away from voting for Trump to cause some real damage. I don't feel like he's in danger of winning, so I feel like him running on an independent ticket just hurts the GOP party in general and increases a schism that is rapidly forming between Trump supporters and GOP voters who are disgusted by Trump's antics but not enough to vote Democratic.

[CanonRay]

9. I'd send him money

just to screw over the Rethugs.

[irisblue]

10. His ambition is boundless.

He is slimy & savvy. I'm proud & pleased to say I've voted against him for Gov & Cong Rep in 90s. Awful man with awful plans, the "brains" of tbe financial side on Newt Gingrich & Contract on America

[TlalocW]

11. If Kasich did make it on the presidential ballot

And Trump was still the president (let's hope not), he would be down 33% of the republican vote as that's about the threshold for the nutcase segment of the GOP. He's not going to peel off any democratic voters, and most middle-of-the-roaders would be breaking for democrats after four years of republican bullshit. Plus, no matter what, he's not going to get hardly any coverage from the media because they'll be focusing on what will undoubtedly be a down-in-the-dirt fight between Trump and the democratic nominee, where the latter would make truthful claims about his/her opponent, and Trump would be Trump. I think he would need a miracle.

TlalocW

[marble falls]

12. I origionally saw this as "Kucinich" and got peeved. It's Kasich, let him run as "Independent".

[renegade000]

14. If he was serious about this, he'd try for the Rep nomination first...

Straight to Ind would be a wildcard spoiler.

[Jim Lane]

25. He probably can't do both.

Quite a few states have "sore loser" laws. If you compete for a party's nomination, and lose, you can't then appear on the general-election ballot on a different party's line or as an independent.

[Nonhlanhla]

16. The risk is that this can help reelect Trump

Many moderate Republicans and conservative Dems might be inclined to vote for Kasich and dilute the anti-Trump vote.

[not fooled]

17. A sign of how screwed up this country is

that a hard-right tool like kaisuck looks reasonable to a lot of people because of the total nutjobs currently in power.

It just ticks me off to see him go on e.g. Bill Maher's show and be applauded like a hero. Or savior.

Of course, the corporate media keeps pushing the idea of the "sane, moderate Republican" choice. Sane, my ass--if this country were adequately informed, he would instantly be exposed for the extremist that he actually is. And, his true positions would be covered in detail, quickly ending any realistic shot he might have at the presidency. I'm not holding my breath.

[IronLionZion]

18. I really hope Trump is no longer in office by then

but by all means, split the republican vote. Give their voters an alternative to dipshit

[Doitnow]

19. Once a Rethug-----always one. Don't get fooled. Remember his RECORD.

[Dawson Leery]

20. He will be the GOP's Jon Anderson of 2020.

That means he will cost the GOP votes just as Anderson cost Dems votes.

[JI7]

21. DO IT

[Maeve]

22. After all, he has so much charisma!

You know just how fantastically he did in 2016...the best most would say about him, even here in Ohio, was that he comes across like an adult.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

23. I support his run as an Independent. I might even contribute.

He might steal a few electoral votes from the Republican candidate. Go Kasich!

[Cha]

24. Yeah, but if he splits

the pub vote.. that can't be bad, right?