Notes by Rich Lowry Jan Kasich it has a “class/populist” appeal – something Mitt Romney is lacking.
It’s clear that the former Ohio congressman wasn’t quite ready for primetime when he briefly ran for president in 2000, but since then, his appearances on FOX have increased his profile dramatically.
Here are some thoughts on Kasich:
Badly: Interestingly, Kasich was reported to be considered a running mate Bob Dole in 1996. Not many people remember this, so it probably won’t ruin his chances McCain. There were also rumors of personal peccadillos in the past, but they seem to have died down.
Good: Kasich – who was preparing to run for governor of Ohio – is not among McCain’s obvious choices and was not mentioned often (he was not included in my “A Conservative Guide to Choosing a VP“), but this could be a good solution if McCain is looking for the buzz that a “surprise” could generate.
… Moreover, he is in his fifties. In my opinion, this is the perfect age for McCain’s running mate. Kasich is adolescent enough to be fashionable, but not so adolescent that he looks like he’s at a party with his grandpa. McCain doesn’t need a adolescent running mate to remind people his age, but he does need ”
youngish“running buddy.
…Both philosophically and stylistically, Kasich seems to be a pretty good fit for McCain, too. Kasich’s choice will not offend independent swing voters or conservatives.
Blend: Of course, it helps that Kasich is from “THE” swing state Ohio. But it’s unclear whether he could “deliver” for the state – a common concern for most potential McCain nominees. Still, given the recent GOP scandals in Ohio, Kasich may be the only Republican who can immediately guarantee that Ohio will at least be “in the game” in 2008 – and that’s worth something…