Trump’s not the reason the GOP sputtered in Ohio

The New York Post ^ | August 11, 2018 | Salena Zito

[2ndDivisionVet]

Last week, Republican Troy Balderson struggled to beat Democrat Danny O’Connor in a House special election in suburban Columbus — an Ohio district the GOP has held for decades and President Trump won by 11 percentage points two years ago. (The race — still too close to call with a margin of 1,564 votes — won’t be declared until Aug. 24, when all the absentee ballots have been counted.)

In May, Republican Rick Saccone lost a special election to Democrat Conor Lamb in Pennsylvania, another district that voted solidly Trump.

Both Ohio and Pennsylvania represent the new coalition of Trump voters — Rust Belt states that were expected to swing blue in 2016 but in fact went for the unorthodox billionaire who promised to “Make America Great Again.”

So, why two years later, is the GOP having so much trouble connecting with these people? Is it Trump? The party establishment?

Ohio Gov. John Kasich said Balderson’s weak showing was a referendum on the president. “Voters here sent a message to the Republicans to knock it off,” Kasich told CBS News last week. “Stop the chaos, the division, no more of this family separation that we see at the border or taking people’s health care away. I think [people] have . . . basically had enough and they’re sending a message to the Republicans, including the Republican in the White House . . .

[Nifster]

I would say just the opposite. Candidates need to hammer a couple of things....the economy (is jobs), democratic obstruction of the agenda, and the idea that the dems will impeach Trump if they win the house

Make them state the truth

[Cowboy Bob]

The Left is desperate if they have to quote Kasich.

[Trump Girl Kit Cat]

Did Kasich FORGET he lost the primary to Trump, Kasich’s mushy all inclusive message lost in a BIG way to Trump and they are quoting THIS LOSER!!! OMG I will never forget the OVER DONE celebration because this LOSER won his own state in the primary the massive confetti was over the top!!!!

[ZagFan]

Kasich is full of it.

I’m sorry, but the name Balderson doesn’t sound like a winning name to begin with. I’m not from Ohio, but maybe he ran a lackluster campaign. And I’m sure the Dem campaigned and ran like a Republican.

[Candor7]

Punchline: “Whether it’s the suburban mom or the blue-collar worker, voters will be willing to listen and connect with a candidate who makes them feel part of their community — and part of something bigger than themselves.

That’s why Trump won in 2016 and forged his coalition in the first place.” >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Interesting platitude. The problem is unique to Ohio, Kasich simply convinced his “Never Trumpers” to vote democrat, its not rocket science. John kasich and his elitist Never Trumper political machine in Ohio has to be destroyed.

And President Trump will do just that. We watch and learn as blue collar workers egin to crossover to the GOP from the Dem party in November, burying the Kasich shit machine.

[Ace's Dad]

Republican Troy Balderson struggled to beat Democrat Danny O’Connor in a House special election in suburban Columbus

No Mention of Vote Counting Criminal Fraud?

[BroJoeK]

Here's something I didn't know, from the article:

"House special elections don’t usually predict a party’s fate in the midterms.
The Democrats lost all their special elections leading up to the 2006 midterms only to flip the House by 30 seats; four years later the Republicans lost all their special elections going into the 2010 midterms — and went on to trounce the Democrats by winning 63 seats back."

Let's hope that pattern holds true this time.
In the mean time, somebody needs to talk to idiot Kasich... honest to goodness...

[FrdmLvr]

Balderson was down in the polls quite a bit before PDJT rallied for him in Ohio. He overcame that deficit then came out on top.

[Terry Mross]

So all but 1,564 sent a message. Suuuure.

[PIF]

How many R and c voters stayed home?

[joma89]

Could Kasich just switch parties, please. He is a demo_rat.

JoMa

[bagster]

Basic premise fallacy.

GOP did not "sputter" in Ohio.

They went 5 for 5, as The Donald said.

Keep spinning, Derp State. Keep spinning.

Bagster

[Dixie Yooper]

There are people in Ohio who still believe that Old GOP royal families are still royalty and need to be worshiped and given elected seats of office to carry on their royal/political bloodlines.

[ptsal]

...and Governor Kaisch has deployed an army of investigators and DAs to locate all of the centenarians who voted, right?

[joesbucks]

That’s not true. Balderson wass up by 9 and 11 points in June. There were 2 polls released a few days before the election. One had B aldershot up by 1. The second had O’Conner up by 1.

[FlipWilson]

Wait, as someone said above I reject the premise of this article. How is winning “sputtering?”

[StoneRainbow68]

Kasich is the guy who could barely get anybody to vote for him in GOP primaries before Trump was the defacto nominee. If Trump hadn’t been there, Kasich still wwouldn’t have won a thing. So why is anybody paying attention to him?

[Jim Noble]

Both Ohio and Pennsylvania represent the new coalition of Trump voters — Rust Belt states that were expected to swing blue in 2016 but in fact went for the unorthodox billionaire who promised to “Make America Great Again.” So, why two years later, is the GOP having so much trouble connecting with these people?

Because the only thing these people hate worse than Democrats is Republicans.

[Artemis Webb]

" House special elections don’t usually predict a party’s fate in the midterms. The Democrats lost all their special elections leading up to the 2006 midterms only to flip the House by 30 seats; four years later the Republicans lost all their special elections going into the 2010 midterms — and went on to trounce the Democrats by winning 63 seats back."