John Kasich for president--in 2000?

Let's say that for some reason GW Bush is not a candidate in 2000. (My standard POD is that Clayton Williams avoids the infamous rape joke, and wins the Texas governorship in 1990--even *with* the joke, he came within 2.5 points of winning. https://en.wikipedia.org/…/Texas_gubernatorial_election,_19… Bush can't very well challenge the incumbent GOP governor in 1994, and as with Jeb, winning in 1998 doesn't give him enough experience for 2000.) Without a Bush, to whom does the party turn? McCain is suspect to some Republicans as too maverick-y, and as for Liddy Dole--well the GOP hadn't had much luck with her husband four years earlier. In OTL, Kasich's campaign for the 2000 nomination was quite short-lived and unsuccessful. But that was because Bush's Establishment backing was so overwhelming. As Chairman of the House Budget Committee, Kasich was popular with Republicans, who argued that he rather than Clinton was responsible for the first balanced budget in decades. Could he get the nomination in this ATL?
 
It's quite possible. He was and still is very popular among independents. But the GOP always seems to nominate the craziest guy, not the likeable moderate, so I don't know. Bush should've lost without the infamous chads but still lost the popular vote in OTL. Kasich probably would've won outright, considering he's pretty charismatic and even more so back when he was younger.
 
Nope. Without Bush, the party establishment would turn to John Ashcroft, Frank Keating, or Big John Engler. The congressional wing was dirt after impeachment, and Dole had been hammered mercilessly in 1996 as a creature of the 'Dole-Gingrich' Congress.
 
It's quite possible. He was and still is very popular among independents. But the GOP always seems to nominate the craziest guy, not the likeable moderate, so I don't know. Bush should've lost without the infamous chads but still lost the popular vote in OTL. Kasich probably would've won outright, considering he's pretty charismatic and even more so back when he was younger.

Plus he is a proud graduate of THE Ohio State University, just like me...
 
It's quite possible. He was and still is very popular among independents. But the GOP always seems to nominate the craziest guy, not the likeable moderate, so I don't know. Bush should've lost without the infamous chads but still lost the popular vote in OTL. Kasich probably would've won outright, considering he's pretty charismatic and even more so back when he was younger.
Dole, McCain, and Romney were crazies and not moderate? What are you smoking?
 
He does not have his experience as Governor of Ohio, If he gets the nomination I see him doing better than Bush did. He is more articulate and there is no DUI scandal.
 
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