Gov.
John
Kasich
(R-OH) Nears Announcement
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July 7, 2015 - Gov. John Kasich
(R-OH), who is expected to announce his candidacy in Columbus, OH on
July 21 fielded reporters' questions during a press availability at RNC
headquarters. Kasich said he expected only a handful of reporters
to show up; instead the room was almost filled. Later he was to
meet with congressional chiefs of staff, Members of Congress, and his
steering committee at the Capitol HIll Club next door. |
In response to reporters'
questions, Kasich said he is not entering the race too late. "My
number one purpose is to make sure Ohio works," he said. He
touted his accomplishments including the recently signed budget,
private sector job growth and elimination of the $8 billion budget
deficit he inherited. Asked about his temperament, Kasich noted
that he had carried 86 of 88 counties in his 2014 re-election.
There "must be something that I'm doing right," he said. "We're
pretty direct where we come from," Kasich said. "I don't think
there's anything wrong with being direct," he added, pointing to
various challenges the country faces. He also said he was
optimistic about his prospects in New Hampshire, where former Sen. John
Sununu is a key supporter. "New Hampshire is a place where people
look you squarely in the eyes," Kasich said. Kasich should know about New Hampshire; in 1999 he made a brief exploratory run for the White House that ended on 16 years ago on July 14 (+). Using an analogy he said that on that run he had a jet airplane but didn't have any gas. This time he has much more experience, and appears confident on the finances. In April he formed a 527 organization, New Day for America, that has been supporting his recent travels. |
An aide said that more than two
thousand tickets have already been ordered for Kasich's announcement,
scheduled to take place in The Ohio Union at The Ohio State University. |
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