de SOUZA: Today in Cleveland, it was the convention that should have been

CLEVELAND

For many Ohio Republicans, it was the convention that should have been: Ohio Gov. John R. Kasich on stage, his wife, Karen, by his side, soaking up the adulation and warmth from the overflow crowd.

It was the convention that should have been – considering that Kasich won the presidential primary in the battleground state by a landslide in his re-election bid.

But it wasn’t.

Rather, the event, billed as the “Rock & Roll Reception Featuring Governor John Kasich,” was less a celebration and more a fond farewell.

Kasich failed in his bid for the Republican nomination for president. He won just one state, Ohio – even though just about every objective analysis of the highly contentious primary and caucus battles featuring 17 candidates concluded that Kasich was the adult in the race.

Without a doubt, his qualifications and long experience in government made him imminently qualified to carry the GOP banner into the general election.

Unfortunately, this was not the year for thoughtful, steady political leadership in the Republican Party.

Read more of Bertram de Souza's analysis on today's events in Cleveland in Thursday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.