John Kasich's Strategist Thinks Those Kasich-Is-the-New-Huntsman Stories Suck
Ohio Governor John Kasich gives his speech announcing his 2016 Presidential candidacy at the Ohio Student Union, at The Ohio State University on July 21, 2015 in Columbus, Ohio.
Photo by Ty Wright/Getty ImagesOn Tuesday, Ohio Governor John Kasich became the 16th candidate to join the GOP presidential field. In the press, this was happening: “John Kasich has a Jon Huntsman Problem,” “John Kasich and the Huntsman Trap,” “John Kasich Risks Becoming the New Jon Huntsman,” “John Kasich Enters Race. Is He 2016’s Jon Huntsman?” And just for variety's sake: “John Kasich: A Jeb Bush in Jon Huntsman Clothing.”
That's right: every political reporter on the planet had EXACTLY THE SAME hot take. The basis of this scorching analysis is that Kasich's chief strategist, John Weaver, was also Jon Huntsman, Jr.'s chief strategist in the 2012 GOP primary—and that didn't end well for Huntsman. He came in 7th place in the Iowa caucuses before finishing third in New Hampshire primary and dropping out of the race. Judging by this tweet from his daughter Abby, bad feelings linger: