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With First Republican Presidential Debate Coming To Ohio, Will Kasich Declare?

Kasich (by Flickr's Michael Vadon); RNC podium by PBS Newshour; Cleveland by Brian Bull
Kasich (by Flickr's Michael Vadon); RNC podium by PBS Newshour; Cleveland by Brian Bull

A major event for the GOP's roster of presidential hopefuls is coming to Cleveland this August.  The first Republican presidential debate - to be carried live on FOX News outlets - will give aspiring candidates a chance to woo voters…a forum which might include Ohio's own Governor John Kasich.  ideastream's Brian Bull reports:

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To date, Kasich has not formally declared his bid for the White House.  But he’s already visited New Hampshire where the first presidential primary will be held.  And he plans to visit Georgia and South Carolina next week.  Political watchdogs feel a decision is imminent, especially with this first Republican debate coming to Kasich’s backyard.

John Green is a political scientist at the University of Akron.  He says if Kasich wants to register on the radar nationally, time is wasting.

“He’s attracted a little bit of buzz in the last few weeks, and he is showing up in national polls, but not very high yet.” 

FOX – which is organizing the event -- has set a 10-candidate limit for the August 6th debate.  Besides declaring their candidacy, contenders must place in the “Top Ten” of an average of five national polls approved by the network.

As to how much weight a presidential debate packs for a candidate’s momentum, Green is cautious:

“The debate in Cleveland is unlikely to have a major impact on the Ohio primary next year.  Obviously there’s a lot can happen between now and the Ohio Republican primary which is scheduled for early March. 

"But typically, Ohio has not been a very important primary state because places like Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina often times winnow the field.” 

But Green adds that with Republicans eager for a White House victory, a candidate who plays well in the must-win, battleground state of Ohio could impress potential voters. 

Calls to Governor Kasich’s office were not returned.