will Kasich be a drag on the (R) nominee in Ohio?

[pbrower2a]

Santorum can win Ohio, but it's an uphill battle. Obama seems pretty popular here. If he could somehow compensate Pennsylvania for Ohio, that would be fantastic.

Six years after Pennsylvania voters showed Senator Rick Santorum decisively (59-41) that they no longer wanted him in the Senate  they will still know why they no longer wanted him in the US Senate. There's just no state or combination of states that Rick Santorum or any other Republican candidate can pick up as compensation for the loss of Ohio. You can say "Pennsylvania", "Michigan", "two of Iowa, Minnesota, and Iowa", or for that matter "New York" or even "California" if you wish, but any Republican nominee for President must force a change in consciousness of America to win election.  

[pbrower2a]

You can be sure that the Obama campaign and SuperPAC will tailor ads in Ohio to tie Romney (or any GOP nominee) to Kasich and SB5.

Even when someone isn't on the ballot, they can be part of the campaign. Just ask Bob Dole who was tied to the very unpopular Newt Gingrich (with ads talking about the "Dole Gingrich Congress"). Or ask Newt Gingrich who has to explain why he is on a couch with Nancy Pelosi.

Agreed. Any high-profile Republican with a personal scandal, proved extremism, or general incompetence within a State can only hurt the Republicans. "Just like John Kasich" is a good way to go after Republicans in Ohio. You can say much the same of Walker in Wisconsin or Scott in Florida.

That's not to say that such a rule doesn't apply to Democrats, too.