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New: @JohnKasich talked to me about why he’s participating in the Democratic National Convention. “I don't care if people agree or disagree with my speaking there. Whatever. We’ve got to settle things down.” https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/henrygomez/john-kasich-democratic-national-convention
Kasich told me it was the Democrats who approached him about speaking. When we talked last week he already had recorded his speech from Westerville, Ohio. https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/henrygomez/john-kasich-democratic-national-convention
Kasich’s View Of Things: “You know, I listen to people all the time make these statements, and because AOC gets outsized publicity doesn't mean she represents the Democratic Party. She's just a part, just some member of it. And it's on both sides ...” https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/henrygomez/john-kasich-democratic-national-convention
For Kasich, this is bipartisanship and his dislike of Trump. He told me he’s still a Republican and that won’t change. “But I just think that at this point in time, my Republican affiliation is outweighed by my concern about the direction of the country.” https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/henrygomez/john-kasich-democratic-national-convention
This latest move for Kasich follows years of him trying to reshape the Republican Party in line with where he saw it heading between 2014-2016 (but instead lost to Trump) https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/henrygomez/john-kasich-democratic-national-convention
I also spoke with some Democratic state party chairs who, despite the grumblings about Kasich speaking, see a benefit. Here’s the PA Dems chair: https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/henrygomez/john-kasich-democratic-national-convention
So what does Kasich get out of this? A Cabinet post? “I'd be more than glad to advise, but I'm not going back to Washington,” Kasich told me. “Could you imagine my being Secretary of Commerce? I mean, I wouldn't survive.” https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/henrygomez/john-kasich-democratic-national-convention
