Skullduggery or Spin? Sources "Close to Kasich" Claim Romney Was Used As a Pawn In An Intra-Ohio GOP Feud

Well, my theory was wrong. Assuming this is true. Which I'm not entirely sure about.

The Ohio State GOP escorted Mitt Romney to Cincinnati for what seemed like a simple campaign appearance. Romney was brought to a phone bank where conservative activists were calling citizens to support John Kasich's reforms to Ohio's public employee unions (the reforms cut benefits and the union's ability to negotiate on health-care issues). The repeal of these reforms has been put on the ballot in Ohio and is polling well–it's called "Issue 2."

...

But GOP chairman Kevin DeWine, who did not support Kasich's gubernatorial campaign, brought Mitt Romney, displaying his political clout. But apparently no one informed Mitt Romney what the Ohio ballot initiatives were about or whether he had a position on them. When asked yesterday if he supported Issue 2, Mitt Romney punted. "I am not speaking about the particular ballot issues," Romney said. "Those are up to the people of Ohio."

...

Two sources with ties to Governor Kasich suggested that the Romney appearance was designed to humiliate Ohio's governor.

Specifically, they suggested, Romney was advised not to take a side on this unpopular issue.

"I can tell you that those [DeWine's] sentiments [about Issue 2] have been made clear to governor Romney. The opinion of those close to the [Ohio] chairman is that Romney should stay as far away from this thing as possible. That it is unpopular," said the experienced operative.

Is this true, or is it spin from Romney supporters? Although the sources here are "close to Kasich," they might also be Romney supporters.

Further, is it incumbent on outside actors to inform Romney's campaign that he's taken a position on this already, as the article suggests? Was that Kevin DeWine's job?

And still further: Even assuming the general contours of the situation here are accurate, why didn't Romney take an actual position supporting Kasich anyway?

Or, if the situation was too sketchy, why not avoid the call center altogether? Why go to the call center at all if he'd been advised by Kevin DeWine to punt on issue important to the serving governor John Kasich?

If this is mostly true, Kevin DeWine should be evicted from office. This is cowardly, sneaky crap. If he's in love with the Public Employee Unions he should say so publicly instead of playing passive-aggressive games behind the scenes.

Thanks to DrewM.

posted by Ace at 02:18 PM

| Access Comments