Supporters gave Kasich’s 43-minute speech high marks for its positive tone.
“I thought it was an outstanding speech,” said State Sen. Bill Beagle, R-Tipp City, citing Kasich’s themes of family, faith, the economy and fiscal matters “I think his experience sets him apart from that big field of folks.”
But Democratic Party officials said Kasich’s words did not ring true, especially his claim that he turned around Ohio.
“If you have a bad economic record or results on education are as deplorable as they have been, you’ve made no case to deserve a promotion,” said David Pepper, chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party.
Democrats said the national scrutiny of Ohio will reveal a state where the wealthy have been given tax breaks at the expense of others, where job growth has lagged the nation and where schools have been neglected and have dropped in some national rankings. They said Kasich balanced the state budget with school funding cuts and by gutting funding for local governments.
“I don’t think that is a great resume to be president of the United States,” said Dayton Municipal Court Clerk Mark Owens, chairman of the Montgomery County Democratic Party. “As much as we don’t want him to be governor in Ohio, we sure don’t want him to be president.”
Montgomery County Sheriff Phil Plummer, who is chairman of the county Republican Party, countered that Kasich has done a good job for Ohio. The huge field of candidates adds excitement to the race, he said, giving voters a choice from a diverse group of candidates.
“I strongly feel that voters are ready for a president that limits government and honors the constitution,” Plummer said.
Rob Scott, a co-founder of the Dayton Tea Party who is now an attorney and Kettering councilman, said he hasn’t decided who to support but believes Kasich would make a good president. Scott said Kasich is strong-willed and would be able to get things done as president.
“He is who he is. He is not bashful about it. He puts it out there,” Scott said. “I think that’s refreshing. I think that’s what the country needs is someone who is actually genuine and not a car salesman.”
State Rep. Rick Perales, R-Beavercreek, said the governor has shown strong leadership.
“You’ve got to appreciate that Governor Kasich does the right thing for the right reason, whether he gets pushed back from the other side or internally,” Perales said. “And Lord knows we need strong leadership.”
Kasich made several references to former President Ronald Reagan, both directly in talking about knowing him, and indirectly in quotes reminiscent of Reagan’s optimistic “morning in America” and “shining city on the hill” references.
“Certainly as Republicans we would all love to see a Ronald Reagan running again, so as far as he has ties to the president he is wise to exploit those,” Beagle said.
Daniel Birdsong, a political science lecturer at the University of Dayton, said the Republican Party “has been searching for the next Ronald Reagan since 1988.”
“I think all this stuff is calculated for connections to those voters” who fondly recall Reagan and the 1980s, Birdsong said.
Beyond “channeling” Reagan in a speech, Kasich’s ability to claim the Reagan mantle will be determined by the specific policies he articulates going forward, Smith said.
“He enters the field as a relative unknown to Republicans across the nation,” Smith said, arguing that Kasich’s performance in the days ahead will “be the testament of whether he succeeds in this race.”
Birdsong said Kasich worked to mobilize people by playing the “underdog” card in his speech. Kasich repeatedly talked about being told he couldn’t accomplish some task or goal and then he wound up accomplishing it.
“The governor managed to accept the role of an underdog in this race for the Republican nomination for president,” Birdsong said. “(He was) looking to the horizon and also calling on his fellow Republicans in the building and elsewhere to come with him to help prove (naysayers) wrong, that they can win this nomination.”
While Donald Trump is getting enormous attention and polls highest among the Republican candidates, Beagle believes that won’t last.
“In combination with media buys and the press (Kasich) is getting I think he has a sporting chance of getting that name boosted out there,” Beagle said.
Paul Leonard, a Democrat and former Dayton mayor and Ohio lieutenant governor, is not so sure.
“If this were a normal political year — serious, sane candidates engaging in intellectual debate — I think John Kasich would be a real contender,” said Leonard, a Wright State University political science professor. “If by chance the Republican Party can get itself past the Donald Trumps of the world and begin looking for a solid candidate who would be a contender and bring something to the Electoral College count I think John Kasich would be a viable candidate for president.”
However, said Leonard, Kasich is getting into the race late and will be hampered by Republican Party rules limiting who can participate in the initial candidate debates based on polling.
“He’s got a big hill to climb,” Leonard said.
Like others, Leonard views Kasich as a serious contender for a vice presidential spot if he doesn’t get traction in the primary.
“I don’t think he wants to be second banana,” said Leonard, who knew Kasich when the latter was in the Statehouse. “(But) it’s no embarrassment to become the second most powerful person in America.”
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