NEWS

Ohio GOP to vote to endorse John Kasich

Chrissie Thompson
cthompson@usatoday.com

COLUMBUS — The Ohio Republican Party's governing body plans to vote Friday to endorse Gov. John Kasich's presidential bid, an unusual step more than two months ahead of the state's March 15 primary.

The party's political director shared the agenda item in an email to central committee members obtained by The Enquirer.

State parties and chairpeople around the country, especially in early-voting states, often try to stay neutral in the presidential race, preferring to support the candidate their voters elect. An Ohio Republican Party spokeswoman acknowledged the plan is unusual in an open primary and as compared with other state parties in 2016, but said it falls within the party's bylaws.

Kasich's candidacy in Ohio has received support from most of the state's elected officials, and party Chairman Matt Borges is a Kasich adviser and outspoken supporter. Many state central committee members have endorsed Kasich and have expressed interest in voting on an endorsement from the party, spokeswoman Brittany Warner said.

Still, other candidates in the crowded GOP field are trying to woo Ohio voters. Marco Rubio, Donald Trump, Ben Carson and Jeb Bush are among candidates who have fundraised, spoken or held campaign events in the state. Rubio has the endorsement of state Treasurer Josh Mandel, and Ohio House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger has ties to the Bush family and therefore hasn't endorsed Kasich. In all, 12 Republicans filed to appear on the state's primary ballot.

Warner pointed to Kasich's landslide re-election in 2014, in which he faced a weak Democratic candidate, and to his 62 percent approval rating in recent polls. Plus, she said, Kasich has championed income tax cuts and economic growth.

"Why in the world would our state party not endorse him?" Warner said. "This is the first time in decades that we have had an Ohio Republican go this far in the (presidential) process, and Governor Kasich is talking about the Ohio story as he's talking to voters throughout the country. And who better to help spread the message about the positive results he has gotten than the Ohio Republican Party?"

The winner of the Ohio primary could receive the primary season’s first major chunk of delegates in candidates' quest to win a majority ahead of the GOP convention in Cleveland. In primaries and caucuses before March 15, candidates will win delegates in proportion to the votes they capture in the state. Ohio’s primary falls on March 15, when primaries switch over to become winner-take-all contests.

A Kasich victory in Ohio would lend important credence to the Ohio governor’s claim that he can win the all-important Buckeye State in November. No Republican has made it to the White House without winning Ohio.

A win by Kasich would also mean the governors' supporters would control the state’s 66 delegates.

Ohio Governor John Kasich raises his arms in victory as he celebrates his re-election on Nov. 4, 2014. Citing his landslide support in that race, the Ohio Republican Party plans to vote Friday to endorse Kasich. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

If no candidate manages to emerge with a majority of delegates, negotiations would start for a “brokered convention,” in which party leaders would try to build a coalition of delegates behind a candidate. Reports have named Mitt Romney as a possible choice, but a quest by Kasich to end up on a ticket could have more credence with the backing of Ohio's 66 delegates.

With the endorsement, Kasich's campaign would gain access to the state party's discounted mailing rate. Party leaders haven't discussed what they'll do if Kasich isn't a contender or has dropped out by March 15, Warner said.