Wednesday, July 14, 1999
Kasich will bow to Bush
Ohio lawmaker ends White House bid
BY HOWARD WILKINSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
U.S. Rep. John Kasich, Ohio's entry in the GOP presidential contest, is expected to drop out of the race today and endorse the front-runner, Texas Gov. George W. Bush.
Mr. Kasich's decision fueled speculation in Washington and Columbus that the Westerville Republican, who has been House Budget chairman for the past five years, could end up with a major post in a Bush administration.
“I would not be surprised to see John heading the Office of Budget and Management in a Bush White House,” said Ohio Republican Party chairman Bob Bennett.
The 47-year-old Mr. Kasich is expected to announce his withdrawal at a press conferences this morning in Columbus and later in Washington. Speculation in Republican circles in Washington on Tuesday was that Mr. Bush might appear with Mr. Kasich in Washington.
Mr. Kasich was one of a field of dozen GOP contenders being swamped by Mr. Bush, who has raised at least $36 million and leads all contenders by wide margins in the polls.
He will be only the second to withdraw. U.S. Sen. Bob Smith of New Hampshire has gotten out and is threatening to run as a third-party candidate.
But, unlike Mr. Smith, Mr. Kasich is expected to jump on the Bush bandwagon today. He is also expected to re-affirm his earlier decision not to run for re-election to the suburban Columbus House seat he has held since 1982 — further fueling speculation that he would expect a job in a Bush White House.
Mr. Bennett said there are “any number of things” Mr. Kasich could do out of elective office.
“I've heard people talk about him becoming a newspaper columnist, a TV anchor,” Mr. Bennett said. “But there's no doubt that he would be considered for a job in any Republican White House.”
Many Ohio Republican Party leaders have held back endorsing a GOP presidential candidate in deference to their fellow Ohioan.
But others, such as Ohio Treasurer Joseph Deters and Ohio House Speaker JoAnn Davidson, endorsed Mr. Kasich's candidacy early on.
Mr. Kasich's withdrawal is likely to spur Ohio Gov. Bob Taft into endorsing a GOP contender. He said recently he would not endorse until he knew whether Mr. Kasich was going to stay in the race.
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