Gov. John Kasich was preaching fiscal responsibility for government on Fox News.
“I can’t think of anything more important that we talk about than having sound finances for the United States of America, and we don’t have them today," Kasich said.
Kasich veered off into health care and immigration, but when he promoted his move to expand Medicaid, a move largely opposed by conservative Republicans, it was suggested that some big-money backers might not see him as a good candidate for president, but as a RINO – Republican in name only.
“Who are these people that say this?" he asked. "You can’t worry about that. If you spend your time worrying who your critics are, you don’t get anything done. I mean, leadership is being willing to walk a lonely road.”
But that suggestion was then walked back, with that RINO label then applied to people Kasich might compete against for the GOP nomination – including New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former presidential candidate Mitt Romney. Kasich then offered this description of a winning candidate, and sounded some familiar themes he’s hit before.
“Person’s got to have depth, they’ve got to understand economics, and they have to have a heart for people who may not be as successful as them," he said, "and they need to be able to be in a position where the average folk out there, the average Joe out there says, ‘You know what? I think he understands my problems.’”
The words “presidential campaign” were never mentioned, but when asked if he wants to do anything else, Kasich talked about the federal balanced budget amendment and Ohio’s economy – and didn’t say anything about national aspirations beyond that.
