Posted on 06/11/2015 8:54:05 AM PDT by iowamark
ohn Kasich's presumed presidential campaign is off to a rocky start in South Carolina, with some Republican insiders there questioning two recent staff hires.
The Ohio governor has yet to officially declare for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination. But he has begun assembling a political operation in preparation to run, including the signing of veteran GOP consultants Fred Davis and John Weaver. That could hurt Kasich in South Carolina, host of the third nominating contest and first in the GOP-dominated South, because both Davis and Weaver worked to unseat Gov. Nikki Haley in 2014.
"Congratulations to Gov. Kasich and his team on the dumbest decision (so far) of the South Carolina primary season," said a senior Palmetto State Republican, who requested anonymity in order to speak candidly. "Gov. Haley's allies have their knives out for anyone linked to Fred Davis and John Weaver. If you primary an early presidential primary state's governor, there's steep price."
Not every South Carolina Republican is convinced Davis and Weaver will cause problems for Kasich, 63, the plain-spoken budget hawk and former congressman who was re-elected last year to a second term running the Buckeye State. One GOP elected official in South Carolina called the matter a "non-issue."
Last cycle, Davis and Weaver advised Tom Ervin, a self-funding attorney and former Democrat who initially challenged Haley in the Republican primary before dropping out and running in the general election as an independent.
Davis, a media consultant, said in an interview on Wednesday that he worked for Ervin briefly and never produced any advertising for him. But Haley's allies are still furious, and some GOP insiders believe those feelings could trickle down to the grassroots, who remain loyal to the governor. "Brilliant. Hire guy who fleeced Indy out of millions of $ running against R guv in early primary state," Haley advisor Tim Pearson tweeted earlier this week.
In an email exchange with the Washington Examiner, Kasich's political operation defended the governor's staffing decisions and dismissed any suggestion that they would hurt him in South Carolina.
"Both Fred Davis and John Weaver have tremendous experience electing Republicans to office and working on national campaigns," said Chris Schrimpf, a spokesman for New Day for American, a 527 organization formed by Kasich to support his political aspirations. "Governor Kasich has had very good visits to South Carolina and other states where people respond to his record balancing the budget and leading Ohio back from financial ruin. Americans are looking for a leader who delivers results. That's what voters are focused on."
Meanwhile, Davis downplayed his association with Ervin, saying of his tenure advising the independent gubernatorial candidate: "I did it for a very brief period of time … I never ran an ad or anything."
Kasich isn't the first Republican presidential contender to face political blowback in an early primary or caucus state over a staffing decision. Back in March, Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin let go of Liz Mair, the very capable Republican digital strategist, after news surfaced that she had been publicly critical of Iowa's position as the host of the first nominating contest on the presidential primary calendar.
These sorts of things tend to be overlooked by rank-and-file voters. But in early primary states like South Carolina, with intense competition for grassroots volunteers and professional political activists and operatives, every decision is scrutinized. Even if Davis and Weaver weren't heavily involved in Ervin's campaign, Kasich's opponents will use the issue against him, and it could take a political toll, particularly if Haley responds by letter her supporters know she disapproves of their hiring.
"The signal other campaigns will send out about these hires is John Kasich hired the guys who tried to help Vincent Sheheen beat Nikki Haley," a GOP operative said. Sheheen, Haley's Democratic challenger last year, received a late endorsement from Ervin in their race, and many Republicans contend they were allies all along.
He’s my governor, and I can’t for the life of me feel that he even has a teensy weeensy chance to get a single vote other than from his family and friends.
How do these people get such big heads about something when even they know they can’t win?
Kasich is another blocker for Bush. Or Rubio if they can’t drag Bush across the finish line.
The only thing the RNC cares about is producing an amnesty candidate for The Cheap Labor Express.
Nobody cares. It would be more worthwhile to watch reruns of Barney the purple Dinosaur than to worry about John Kasich. He will have zero impact on the election.
Kasich is off his rocks all the time.
South Carolina PingKeep up with what our Congresscritters (House and Senate) are doing. Sign up for the free MegaVote email service here.
Ping PS - Did you know SC is on the list of 25 states suing nobama over his amensty order? Read more here.
This is my shocked face :-0
Last cycle, Davis and Weaver advised Tom Ervin, a self-funding attorney and former Democrat who initially challenged Haley in the Republican primary before dropping out and running in the general election as an independent. Davis, a media consultant, said in an interview on Wednesday that he worked for Ervin briefly and never produced any advertising for him. But Haley's allies are still furious, and some GOP insiders believe those feelings could trickle down to the grassroots, who remain loyal to the governor. "Brilliant. Hire guy who fleeced Indy out of millions of $ running against R guv in early primary state," Haley advisor Tim Pearson tweeted earlier this week.
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