New York Times urges support for Kasich

The Blade

Toledo

A New York Times editorial Saturday urged Republican establishment leaders bent on defeating Donald Trump to back Ohio Gov. John Kasich for the Republican nomination in moderate congressional districts and Northeast states.

More of an analysis than a ringing endorsement, the editorial calls U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas “a dangerously reactionary senator” and Trump “a dangerously ignorant businessman.”

Looking at the remaining states in the primary calendar, which includes New York, the editorial contends the anti-Trump forces are backing the wrong horse.

Next on the primary calendar is Wisconsin, whose Republicans and Democrats vote Tuesday. Cruz leads there, though all three candidates are competing aggressively.

The paper cited a Republican “town hall” meeting on Tuesday where “it was painful to watch farmers, students, and a man whose son died of a drug overdose pose earnest questions to Mr. Trump and Mr. Cruz, who were more interested in attacking each other. Only John Kasich connected with these voters.”

“For the state’s – and the nation’s – moderate conservatives, ‘Never Trump’ should more logically mean ‘Maybe Kasich,’” the Times opined.

“In some coming states and districts, voter data indicates that Mr. Kasich, not the ultraconservative, evangelical Mr. Cruz, could be more competitive. Yet there’s been no real effort by ‘Never Trump’ leaders on Mr. Kasich’s behalf. Indeed, some Republicans are pressuring the Ohio governor to quit and coalescing around Mr. Cruz, a candidate who was once almost as unthinkable to them as Mr. Trump and should still be,” the Times said.

The paper cited Henry Olsen of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, a conservative think tank in Washington, who said the “Never Trump” campaign should help Cruz in the Los Angeles area of California, New Mexico, South Dakota, Indiana and Montana.

But they should encourage Delaware, the San Francisco area, the Philadelphia suburbs, and urban areas in New York state to support Kasich.

The analysis says conservative leaders are trying to retain their own influence, but they would be wiser to appeal to voters who don’t see government or foreigners as enemies.

Kasich campaigned Saturday in Burlington, Janesville and Madison, Wis. On Monday he campaigns at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y.