If you really want to beat Hillary Clinton…
…support Kasich, at least according to the national polls, which you may or may not believe or care about.
That poll result is one of the many very strange things that have emerged so far this campaign season. Another is that Sanders does better than Hillary Clinton against all the GOP candidates in similar national polls.
Kasich polls that high because nobody knows him.
Nobody knows him because he is a lackluster candidate who was never attacked by other candidates in the debates.
He was never attacked because he was no threat to anybody, while the act of attacking anybody is risky because of possible backlash.
If Kasich ever became the frontrunner, that would all change.
Kasich is not a nice guy, from what I’ve heard and there are plenty of skeletons in his closet for oppo.
If that’s not persuasive, then ask yourself: “what kind of man expands Medicaid over the objections of his own party, then persecutes dissenters after he’s won, then tries to justify the expansion based on religion?”
Matt_SE:
I agree that Kasich is awful, and that as time went on more attacks on him and exposure to him would damage him.
But I don’t think his poll strength is completely bogus, and that’s because he’s sort of moderate, and people dislike Clinton and Trump so much. I know a lot of people who would rather pull the lever for him than for either of them.
Matt-Se, what is your basis for saying that Kasich is not a nice guy? What skeletons are you talking about?
He has a long resume that unlike Donald Trump’s, for instance, is completely open to public scrutiny. I doubt that there are any secrets.
I have posted before that a friend of long standing–a staunch conservative–worked for a many years on Senator Glenn of Ohio’s staff, and knew of Kasich’s work on the House Armed Services Committee, and through the Ohio connection. He thinks highly of Kasich. So, I wonder what you know that my friend does not.
Oldflyer, Glenn is no conservative. I remember his despicable behavior defending the Clinton administration from their multiple sleaze. He and his staff are not who I would look for endorsements on conservatives.
Clinton in the WH signals the end of the republic. Kasich in the WH signals the continuation and entrenchment of the oligarchy. Neither can or will successfully defend America from the barbarians.
Kasich’s policy suite is Democrat Lite.
He’s an Open Borders guy.
Wide Open.
&&&&&&&
Cruz would win in the Fall — because the Electors decide the issue.
He’d keep all of Romney’s Electors — and add on Florida, Ohio, …
The fact that Cruz would be drubbed in California is meaningless.
That’s the problem with national averages.
Skeleton #1 — Kasich — microphone in hand — lambasts a patrol cop as a stupid idiot…
Problem: said stupid idot cop has video and sound of that traffic stop.
Kasich was clearly in the wrong.
The officer was entirely professional.
Kasich’s judgment — and memory — was TERRIBLE.
Cruz would chop HRCGS down to size in any ‘debate’ format.
Most of Cruz’s ‘sins’ would not be deemed sins in the eyes of swing voters.
He would energize the conservative base while not energizing the Leftist base.
Cruz would have good numbers with Latino voters.
Trump figures to lose Utah — and Texas.
Oldflyer,
As luck would have it, Ace has been bashing on Kasich along the same lines:
“The Kindly, Avuncular John Kasich Is A Bit of a Mystery To People Who Know Him Well, Who Know He’s Kind of an Enormous Asshole” (Ace’s headline in the sidebar):
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/26/us/politics/john-kasich-campaign.html?_r=1
I didn’t read the article above, but as I said: expanded Medicaid over objections of own party (borderline defendable), persecuted those who dissented from him (completely beyond the pale), blamed it on Saint Peter in the debates (skeezy snake-handler deflection).
The last part is like something an adulterating televangelist would do.
I have no other specifics, but I’ve heard similar sentiments from maybe 3 other people.
With a carefully crafted campaign, and a 50-50 showing in the debates with hrc; Kasich might just squeak by in the general. Not holding my breath, but I would vote for him in the general as the lesser evil. But then, I would vote for a stray dog over any dem or Trump the stealth dem.
Kasich is “leading” in the polls in part because of crossover Dem support. That support is, I suspect, bogus. Dems would love to see Kasich run against Hilliary because they believe he is the easiest GOPer to beat.
I’ve met Kasich….all the talk above about him being an a–hole …..is TRUE.