From the outset the broadcast media have intentionally not mentioned the weak technical campaign strategy of Ohio Governor John Kasich. The foundational reason for the lack of ground-work was simply that Kasich was never supposed to be a national GOPe candidate.

Just like Rubio in Florida, Pataki in Illinois, Gilmore and Fiorina in Virginia, Perry in Texas and Lindsey Graham in South Carolina, Kasich’s role was to block a momentum candidate by splitting the voting base in Ohio. Each of these candidates had a role to play in the GOPe road map for Jeb Bush.

However, when Donald Trump overwhelmed the “splitter strategy“, and eventually when Bush was forced to drop out of the race, the GOPe road-map shifted from “splitting” to “blocking“. John Kasich’s role shifting accordingly. Unfortunately, Kasich is not on all the ballots where the GOPe need has shifted.

Governor Kasich is not on all the ballots in Illinois, and without gaining the needed signatures in the Keystone State he’s now also resting his hopes on a technical ruling in Pennsylvania to help him get on the ballot:

HARRISBURG — Ohio Gov. John Kasich’s own lawyer agrees the presidential campaign submitted fewer valid signatures than are required for the candidate to appear on Pennsylvania’s primary ballot. But he argued in court Wednesday that it doesn’t matter because an objection to Mr. Kasich’s nominating petitions was filed 13 minutes too late.

At issue is whether challenges to Pennsylvania nominating petitions are due by 5 p.m. or 11:59 p.m. on the last day to file.

Attorneys for Mr. Kasich and the objector have stipulated that the campaign filed no more than 2,184 signatures with the state, and that 192 of those signatures were not valid. Republican and Democratic candidates for president must submit 2,000 signatures to appear on the ballot. (read more)