Ohio Gov. Kasich formally announces presidential bid

Kasich emphasized the specific concerns of minorities and the fears of Americans worried about lost jobs, health care costs and skyrocketing student debt. Here are six things to know about the second-term governor of swing-state Ohio.

A veteran congressman as well as governor, Kasich is telling voters he is the only GOP candidate with experience in three broad areas of political leadership – the federal budget, national security and state government. He talked about his time at Ohio State, living with 15 other roommates – now he’s running against 15 other Republicans for the presidential nomination.

Kasich grew up Catholic but drifted away, renewing his faith after his parents were killed by a drunk driver in 1987.

From day one, John Kasich has proved himself to be on the side of wealthy special interests, and not for the hardworking middle class families. If he doesn’t get across the threshold, he can dismiss it as a consequence of his late start and not a sign of a fundamental weakness in his candidacy. John wasn’t just going to be a priest, though. Rob Portman for his seat, had used about $1 billion from the surplus to balance the state budget, leaving it almost empty. Then, in 1987, they were killed by a drunken driver while pulling out of Burger King after a coffee run.

Nevertheless, Kasich has been unusually blunt on the issue. He described how he had gathered a Bible study group that had been his rock for more than two decades. And he didn’t tow the conservative line on Obamacare. But he frequently invokes Matthew 25 as his rationale for helping those less fortunate.

Directness, Kasich said, will serve him well as he campaigns.

Kasich insists he’s unfazed by the uphill challenge.

During his speech, Kasich emphasized his experience in Congress on the armed services committee and as chairman of the budget committee. He once threatened lobbyists in Ohio – “If you’re not on the bus, we’ll run you over with the bus”, he said – snapped at a GOP donor who asked him about his decision to expand Medicaid, once called a traffic cop who had pulled him over “an idiot” and has gotten testy with reporters more than a few times. It was a projection, which had been changed several times. The top 10 candidates, determined by the highest averages of five national polls, will take part in the Fox News/Facebook debate.

On paper, Kasich has a solid resume for a Republican presidential nominee, notes Dan Balz with The Washington Post.

In eyeing the White House, Kasich had decided not to seek re-election to the House in 2000. As in his brother’s 2000 campaign, Bush has also consolidated much of the party’s institutional and financial support.

But he had another new gig, too: TV host.

Kasich endured years of litigation, political resistance and media investigations after he privatized Ohio’s economic development department, designing the nonprofit JobsOhio to “move at the speed of business”.

As for questions for whether he can win the GOP nomination and the presidency, he repeatedly said, “They said it couldn’t be done, and we proved them wrong again”, referring to past setbacks and victories. The 63 year old is going with a dark blue background with Kasich emblazoned in white.