After Jeb Bush dropped out of the race for the GOP presidential nomination last week, John Kasich declared himself the winner of the “Governor’s Bracket,” having outlasted Wisconsin’s Scott Walker, Florida’s Bush and New Jersey’s Chris Christie. But some major GOP power brokers now want the Ohio governor to join his fellow state executives in the retirement home for former candidates.
The vaunted “GOP Establishment,” the group of Republican Party insiders who are desperately trying to find a way to avoid nominating either Donald Trump or Sen. Ted Cruz, want Kasich to get out of the race now so that all of his supporters, money, and voters will shift to Marco Rubio, who is their clear choice, reports Politico.
Among the GOP figures who told Politico that Kasich dropping out could be a good idea: Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch.
Kasich should think about the good of the party, other anonymous sources told Politico. Here are the words of one fundraiser who supports Rubio:
At the end of the day, you have to try to stop Trump, and then you might have to live with Trump. I’m realistic. I think Marco is the best chance to stop Donald Trump, and I certainly think he’s the best candidate of the candidates we have to beat [Hillary] Clinton.
Kasich has given no indication he plans on dropping out, believing he can perform well in moderate states that vote later in the primary cycle.