Will Ohio Gov. John Kasich be the next Republican candidate to join the crowded 2016 field?
Speaking to a crowd at the Detroit Economic Club at the Cobo Center in Michigan Monday, the Republican lawmaker said he is “seriously considering” a run for president.
“If it makes sense, I will do it,” he replied to a question asked from the audience after his speech. “You are who you are … I am not going to lay awake at night if people don’t like me.”
According to the Columbus Dispatch, his line, “In America today, we don’t agree on anything … we’re all living in our silo and we’re righteous in our silos,” received the most applause.
The last time Michigan voted for a Republican candidate was in 1988, for George H.W. Bush. Later this week, Kasich will also head to South Carolina and New Hampshire, two key and early primary states for events.
Should he decide to run, Kasich would have a lot of work to do. According to a RealClearPolitics average of polls, he is polling dead last among a potential 12-person deep field. With 1.3 points, he is way behind leaders former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (16.5) and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (15.3).
Another hurdle would be answering to conservatives over his Obamacare Medicaid expansion last summer. As of last December, more than 450,000 Ohioans had been put on Medicaid since the expansion.
Kasich was elected in 2011.
