I am sure the 2016 watchers can help me here a lot: why is Kasich not being talked about as a presidential contender in 2016? He is a governor from a swing state, a Contract with America Congressman. He has taken on unions, is a competent public speaker and has run for president already. Why does Scott Walker register as 2016 presidential timber but not Kasich?
It is an open secret here that he really wants to run, but he's basically poor man's Scott Walker. Seriously, why would a rank-and-file Republican pick him over Walker? Kasich fought the unions and lost? Scott Walker fought the unions and won. Kasich expanded Medicaid (which I am happy about and give him credit for; even though it was likely an election ploy, he still did it)? Scott Walker opposed Medicaid expansion. Kasich is gonna win re-election against a B- opponent in a slightly Republican-leaning swing state? Walker is going to win re-election against a B- opponent in a slightly Democratic-leaning blue state. I'm sure you get the idea by now. I suspect Kasich is well aware of this and resents Walker quite a bit for consistently upstaging him. Also Kasich has this "aww shucks, let's just roll up our sleeves and get to work/well guys the unions beat us, bless them" schtick that has started to get on people's nerves here and probably would in a Presidential campaign too (I know a number of Kasich supporters who hate listening to him on TV b/c of this speaking style he seems to have developed).
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