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Ohio Republicans Remain Optimistic of Gov. Kasich's Presidential Bid

Photo of Matt Borges
GOP.com

Gov. John Kasich didn’t do well in the South Carolina primary – finishing fifth. But his backers are staying positive about his chances.

Statehouse correspondent Karen Kasler caught up with one of them.

Ohio Republican Party chair Matt Borges remains upbeat, saying he’s not convinced that voters are rejecting Kasich as an establishment candidate. And Borges also rejects the idea that Kasich is angling for a vice presidential slot with Marco Rubio, or anyone else.

“John Kasich certainly is not, he would not be very happy if anyone were to call him and say, ‘What would you think about just go ahead and taking the No. 2 spot?'" said Borges.

Borges also says the next few weeks of primaries could bring Kasich even with Donald Trump in terms of delegates, and that Kasich has gained donors since New Hampshire, so he has the money to last. 

Karen is a lifelong Ohioan who has served as news director at WCBE-FM, assignment editor/overnight anchor at WBNS-TV, and afternoon drive anchor/assignment editor in WTAM-AM in Cleveland. In addition to her daily reporting for Ohio’s public radio stations, she’s reported for NPR, the BBC, ABC Radio News and other news outlets. She hosts and produces the Statehouse News Bureau’s weekly TV show “The State of Ohio”, which airs on PBS stations statewide. She’s also a frequent guest on WOSU TV’s “Columbus on the Record”, a regular panelist on “The Sound of Ideas” on ideastream in Cleveland, appeared on the inaugural edition of “Face the State” on WBNS-TV and occasionally reports for “PBS Newshour”. She’s often called to moderate debates, including the Columbus Metropolitan Club’s Issue 3/legal marijuana debate and its pre-primary mayoral debate, and the City Club of Cleveland’s US Senate debate in 2012.