Kasich, Biden join to discuss political divide

Ohio Gov. John Kasich is teaming up with formerVice PresidentJoeBidenfordiscussion about howto the bridge the gaping, yawning political divide that grips Washington, D.C.

Kasich will join Biden at theUniversityof Delawareon Tuesday, Oct. 17, for the talk, which is sponsored by the newlyformedBidenInstitute.

Kasich and Biden, who partnered in June 2011 in a golf match against Barack Obama and John Boehner, both have blue collar roots and deep political resumes.

Kasich ran for president in 2016 while Biden, grieving from the death of his son, opted out of the race. Still, both men are striving tomake themselvesheardon the national political stage.

Wright State University political scientist Lee Hannah said flirting with a primary or independent bid for president is themost sure-fire way for Kasich to maintain a national voice. “I personally think that he is trying to stay in the national spotlight so that he will have choices after his term ends,” Hannah said.

At this point, Trumpwould be difficult to beat in a primary since 80 percent of Republicanvoterssupportthe incumbentpresident,Hannah noted. EvenifTrumpdecided not to seek re-election, Vice President Mike Pencewould be the heavy favorite.

Recent moves by Kasich have earned him criticism from within his own party.

He refuses toendorse President Trump, he fiercely defends the decision to expand Medicaid to cover more low-income people, and he is calling for an overhaul of how Ohio draws its congressional district maps — eventhoughtheGOPholds the upper hand with the current system. He told young immigrants brought illegally to America by their parents: come to Ohio.

The governor sidesteps questionsaboutwhetherhe’ll run as an independent for president in 2020. ButKasich said on CNN last month that he might not be able to support the Republican Party if it can’t be fixed.

Despite his willingness to criticize Trump and defend expandedMedicaid, Democrats inOhiowillquickly note that Kasich is still a true conservative.

While Kasich toldCBS This Morningthathesupportsoutlawingbumpdevices used to modify semi-automaticweapons to fire rapidly — Kasich has signed into law bills that expand the right for permit holders to carry concealedweaponsintobars, day cares and college campuses.