Report: Kasich was offered VP job; Republican reaction

UPDATE @ 5:29 p.m.:

Dr. Mark Caleb Smith, professor of political studies at Cedarville University, said he believes if the report is true that the Trump campaign offered the Vice President position to John Kasich to give him decision-making power over domestic and foreign policy that it would be damaging to Donald Trump.

“If it’s true it’s incredibly embarrassing to Donald Trump,” Smith said. “It suggests that he really won’t be connected with the government itself.”

Smith added that, “right now, it seems like someone has leaked this story to damage Mr. Trump.”

UPDATE @ 3:46 p.m.

Our reporter Jim Otte attempted to ask Governor John Kasich about his denial of the Trump camp VP offer. He ran into Kasich inside the Ohio Republican delegation hotel in Cleveland as The governor shook Otte’s hand, but would make no comment, and kept on walking.

We are attempting to get a statement from Kasich’s team.

UPDATE @ 3:12 p.m.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is already reacting on Twitter to reports of his offer of Vice President to Ohio Governor John Kasich.

Earlier today, Trump’s tweet was likely aimed at gaining Ohio votes.

UPDATE @ 2:34 p.m.

Ohio residents in Cleveland for the Republican National Convention spoke out Wednesday after hearing about the New York Times Magazine report that presidential nominee Donald Trump asked Ohio Governor John Kasich to be "the most powerful vice president in history," giving him decision-making power over domestic and foreign policy.

One Cleveland resident was angry to hear of Kasich’s decline of the offer.

“I think Mr. Kasich is being very petty, he’s putting his own interests above the interests of the country and the party,” said Pat Dooley of Cleveland. He’s making it very easy for Hillary to win Ohio, she could win Ohio and that would be the gold win. I think he’s being very destructive and I don’t appreciate what he’s doing. I dislike it intensely,” said Dooley.

UPDATE @ 2:20 p.m.

Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel said he had not heard of the Trump VP offer to Kasich until today.

“I was actually the Ohio chairman for Marco Rubio, if it was on him, I might be able to speak to it, but I’ve not been involved in these two camps,” said Mandel outside the Republican National Convention.

FIRST REPORT

According to a new report, Republican Party nominee Donald Trump asked Ohio Gov. John Kasich the chance to be “the most powerful vice president in history.”

Trump offered the job to Kasich and would have put him in charge of domestic and foreign policy, according to CBS.

On Tuesday, Kasich was in Cleveland, but did not go to the convention.

Kasich has refused to endorse Trump and made the decision to avoid the convention floor. Trump’s campain adviser said Kasich was embarrassing the state.

About the Author