The chief strategist behind President George W. Bush’s campaigns has written a book about another president – Ohio’s William McKinley, elected in 1896.
He was at the Statehouse today to sign that book, and correspondent Karen Kasler asked him about the upcoming presidential election.
Karl Rove says for John Kasich to gain traction in this campaign, it’s not about beating Donald Trump – it’s about connecting with voters about who he is and what he believes in.
“And there’s plenty of time to make that happen. John McCain was not polling particularly well in New Hampshire at this point in 2000, and people come from nowhere – witness Rick Santorum in Iowa in 2012. These early states, they make up their minds late.”
Rove says he doesn’t think Trump will be the nominee, but if he is, Rove says the party faces what he calls a “very uphill climb”.