This week, the Kasich campaign announced the appointment of 24-year-old California native Gregory Caruso (aka #HotDebateGuy) to chair his national youth outreach effort.
“Governor Kasich has a proven record, he is forward thinking and he is ready to bring real change to Washington,” Caruso said in a press release from the campaign. “I am both honored and thankful for this opportunity to serve as his National Chair for Young People to help organize his growing efforts to inspire young voters like myself.”
Although Kasich lags far behind in the overall delegate count, as the more moderate choice and as one of the only Republican alternatives to Donald Trump, he may actually have a leg up when it comes to winning over young voters.
Caruso, who caused a social media frenzy at one of the GOP debates, said Kasich’s “positive,” “down to earth,” and “fiscal conservative,” characteristics are what resonate with young voters — as opposed to Trump, whom he has said “definitely scares me.”
Caruso added that the anti-Muslim, closed border rhetoric coming from both Trump and Cruz put them at a disadvantage with millennials.
Other young supporters, such as University of Pennsylvania student Varun Menon, like Kasich for representing moderate conservatives. Menon called him “by far the most unifying candidate.”
Kasich and his campaign have been promoting polling that shows the governor is the only Republican who can beat Hillary Clinton in a general election matchup, combining his support from Republicans, independents, and young voters.
Kasich may be the least divisive candidate, but he is also the least viable, with fewer delegates than even Marco Rubio, who is no longer in the race.
Skating by on his Ohio primary win, the Kasich team is holding out hope for a contested GOP convention in July.
“I think the delegates will take his experience seriously,” Caruso said. “I’m confident that he has a shot.”
