Perhaps Kasich is thinking of telling the truth, finally, and running as a democrat.
- Kasich voted for the “Assault” Weapons Ban. https://grabien.com/file.php?id=53463 and as of 2016 did not regret that vote
- Kasich supported and implemented Obamacare’s Medicare expansion http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/john-kasich-bible-medicaid_us_56140a54e4b022a4ce5fb1e3
- Kasich supports Amnesty for illegals. http://www.ontheissues.org/John_Kasich.htm
- Kasich dismissively said Christian bakers should “bake the cupcake” and participate in a gay parody of the sacrament of marriage, even if it violates their religious beliefs. https://www.frcaction.org/updatearticle/20160225/kasich-pushes
- Kasich supported Obama’s last nominee for the Supreme Court. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/john-kasich-id-consider-nominating-merrick-garland-supreme-court-election-2016/
These are Kasich’s core beliefs, not old comments taken out of context. Kasich is a big government liberal who consistently opposes conservative positions and consistently opposes the rule of law. He’d fit right in with the Democrat establishment, even though he’s to the left of most democrat voters.
He has a narrative as a Republican - he's the anti-Trump - but he has nothing if he enters the Democratic primaries - he's just the guy at the end of the line with no real support from Democrats.
If Kasich gets 20% of the vote in a Republican primary he will promote it as a victory.