We are writing in response to a letter published earlier this week. As a group that works hard to get Republican candidates elected at the local, state and national level, our club has seen its fair share of races. We have volunteered for presidential, congressional and state house campaigns. However, nothing prepared us for the 2014 gubernatorial race.
The letter states “John Kasich is so arrogant about this election, so sure he’s going to win that he won’t debate his opponent.” The letter touts Kasich’s confidence in winning this November’s election.
The latest Columbus Dispatch poll has Kasich trampling his Democratic opponent by 30 points. A Quinnipiac poll has Kasich leading by 22. In fact, since the beginning of September, the closest poll we can find has Kasich above by an astounding 16 points. Additionally, in September 2014, the Democratic contender raised roughly $54,000 for his campaign effort. September fundraising for the Kasich effort hovered around the $1.2 million mark. John Kasich is not arrogant. He is simply not wasting his time in a clear victory situation. His opponent has self-imploded time after time, in such a huge way we did not even know was possible.
Kasich spokeswoman Connie Wehrkamp said in a September statement that “moving on” is the best thing for the Kasich campaign to do, in light of everything that has happened to the Democratic ticket. Kasich is not at all anti-debate. It is utterly pointless for him to waste his time preparing and debating when instead, he could use that time to continue working hard for Ohioans.
And Kasich is not the only one shifting his focus from the gubernatorial race. The Democratic ticket has given up in the gubernatorial race, as well. The contender’s campaign funds will not be wasted anymore in a lost battle and instead are being divvied throughout the state to other liberal candidates and the Democratic Party’s voter turnout effort. The party has lost such faith in its statewide candidate that it is literally giving his money away.
John Kasich is the leader Ohio needs to keep us on the right track. Since he took office in 2011, Ohio unemployment has shrunk from over 9 percent to 5.7 percent, a rate lower than the national average. Kasich created a balanced budget and eliminated Ohio’s $8 billion deficit. He established The Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force to provide services for victims and increase punishment for the crime. He has worked with Mary Taylor on Ohio’s Common Sense Initiate in order to create economic development in the state.
Kasich has brought tremendous change to this state and is the leader Ohio needs. We applaud him for not taking time out of his gubernatorial duties for petty re-election activities. Kasich won over the hearts of Ohioans once, he can do it again. And he doesn’t need a debate to do it. The opinion of the Ohio University College Republicans reflects the majority opinion of its members.
This letter represents the majority opinion of the Ohio University College Republicans’ members.
