Posted on 07/15/2005 3:42:35 PM PDT by Columbus Dawg
Former Congressman John R. Kasich is being urged by some influential Republicans to run as a reform candidate for governor next year because he is untainted by Statehouse scandals.
Kasich, who ruffled feathers in Washington as chairman of the House Budget Committee, has told supporters he would run only if the field is partially cleared for him, enough campaign money is available and the party commits to ending pay-to-play politics.
A source close to Kasich said the former Westerville congressman told him that if he were elected governor, "Heads would spin and cronyism would be ended. It would be a total do-over, and you can bet that Democrats would be involved in the government and in the solutions."
Anyway, Kasich would definitely be a formidable for governor. He would certainly be a force in central Ohio. I would expect a strong showing in Democrat-leaning Franklin County.
I would wait to see what happens with this.
Some recent polling from the Blackwell folks:
http://www.kenblackwell.com/blog.aspx
Ken Blackwell 36%
Betty Montgomery 21%
Jim Petro 20%
After they were asked preferences callers were informed of beliefs and positions on certain issues (abortion, taxes, etc.)
Ken Blackwell 59%
Betty Montgomery 14%
Jim Petro 12%
Will be interesting to keep an eye on.
No.
Blackwell for Governor.
Kasich for Senator.
Former U.S. Rep. Bob McEwen is being courted to challenge DeWine. That is according to the article.
I will have an opinion later on tonight or tomorrow on this whole thing.
I am in favor of someone that can win against DeWine, preferably solid at least on Judges, WOT and taxes. Anything else would be a bonus.
It doesn't matter if it is McEwen or Kasich, I want DeWine out. Perhaps you'll which stands the better opportunity.
I do know I am opposed to Kasich running for Governor. I want Blackwell in '06.
Kasich is a no brainer. He would win, hands down.
I have liked, and still do like Ken Blackwell, but if he's even remotely touched by the scandles that's going on, he won't have a prayer.
Kasich, on the other hand, would mop the floor with just about anybody who ran.
Reluctantly, becaue I do like Blackwell, I think I would back Kasich over Blackwell if he were to enter the race.
McEwen couldn't even win the runoff for Portman's Congressional seat. He doesn't live here anymore and would garner little support. Blackwell is a good man and good candidate. Kasich should stick to TV or challenge DeWine.
If there is someone to challenge DeWine, it is McEwen. McEwen was reportedly furious with the DeWine family after the recent congressional primary election when DeWine's son got his ass kicked and used a lot of his money at the end to attack McEwen and probably cost him the race.
However, Ken Blackwell has endorsed Mike DeWine for re-election. He did it very publicly at DeWine's ice cream social. Why did Blackwell do this? I think a primary for DeWine hurts Blackwell. It takes away manpower and financial resources (where Blackwell is struggling) from him. Plus, he has cut off any potential DeWine support to Betty and Petro by going to the mat for DeWine. Reports say Blackwell was the only statewide at DeWine's event. DeWine will remember that.
I do not see John Kasich running for either seat. He is well-liked amongst the establishment, and the establishment will turn on him against DeWine. While the establishment may back him in a gubernatorial primary (it would be the easier race for him), Kasich will lose the conservative base to Blackwell. It is basically a no-win situation for Kasich. Nevertheless, Kasich would be a formidable candidate as he would be particularly strong in Franklin County and central Ohio (a notorious swing area).
Blackwell may be favored for governor now. Petro and Betty may blink I think. They are tied up with this crap at BWC. Things don't look good for Republicans right now in Ohio. If one of them drop out, then all of a sudden the primary is very tight. However, there could be benefits for them by droppin out. Could they look at running for re-election and become the front runner for governor in 2010? Plus, a U.S. Senate seat probably will become open that year too.
A lot of different things going on here.
Any areas, swing or GOP, that Blackwell might find trouble in? I've heard he's done well with black voters in the past, which would give him tremendous help in winning the governor's mansion, but I haven't heard about the rest of the state.
From my perspective Ohio is dangerously close to flipping to the Democrats with the corruption through the party, as well as Taft, DeWine and Voinovich as the face of the national representation from Ohio. Ohio needs a swift cleaning before the '08 election or voters, somewhat with good reason, will turn on the Republicans in state.
I'm generally in favor of Blackwell since he challenged this establishment, he certainly showed ability to deal with the pressures of the '04 campaign to keep margin of error minimal so that no rational person could dispute the results. Disputed Taft's obsession with raising taxes.
I'll take your word a primary may backlash on Blackwell, but I'd hope not.
Wish you guys luck in sorting through it. I have already pledged to anyone that takes deWine on, and will be sending donations to Blackwell.
Democrats like Gary Condit?
John Kasich, please stay home. We need Ken Blackwell as our next governor . . . and possibly future president.
The problem for Ken has NEVER been the polls---it's been the money. The Bigwigs are trying to bankroll Petro and Montgomery. I'm going to a Blackwell fundraiser next week, and in addition to giving $$, I'm donating two copies of "A Patriot's History of the U.S.," which I'll autograph, for people who give an appropriate amount of money.
What if Mike DeWine retires? It would be better if Kasich were to run for the Senate than for Governor.
Blackwell's strength will be southwest Ohio. He is from Cincinnati.
He will find problems in northeast Ohio, which is heavily Democratic. Columbus may be a problem too.
Blackwell has won in Columbus and Dayton before. This is a new level of election however.
If Ken wants to win, he has to gain African-American voters.
I agree with you. Blackwell has what it takes to be governor. I think he will be a great governor.
Nonetheless, there are people who think it will be a cake walk for him. They are wrong. It will be very tough for him because he does not have the establishment backing with the money. Money is a problem for him.
There also could be changes in the dynamics of the race.
Who knows what could come of the BWC mess? The Taft ethics problems? What if Petro or Betty get involved with this stuff?
This race is far from over.
My thoughts exactly
"Taft, DeWine and Voinovich"
mind as well consider it a democrat state already
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