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(Photo illustration by Christa Lemczak)

When Americans choose a president, we are deciding who will represent us to the rest of the world. That person should project integrity, policy acumen and compassion.

The Republican candidate we think models those traits is Ohio Gov. John Kasich.

Many in the country are just waking up to Kasich, whose refusal to make outrageous pronouncements and engage in petty backbiting has kept him in the background of the GOP presidential campaign. Being the adult in the room can be a drag.

But Kasich argues that he's the only Republican who can defeat Hillary Clinton in the November general election, and he's banking on the party coming to its senses at the national convention to be held in his home state in July.

Kasich -- a nine-term congressman, onetime investment banker and two-term governor -- has a real track record and meaningful political experience. That puts him out of step with Republican Party voters in thrall to Donald Trump's nativism and demagoguery, but positions Kasich well for the general election.

Kasich is a policy and social conservative with experience in balancing budgets and making political compromises. He would cut taxes for individuals and businesses; repeal Obamacare and expand Medicaid in its stead; and offer a path to legalization (but not citizenship) for 11.5 million illegal immigrants. He is not ready to write the obituary for American manufacturing and thinks retraining people for jobs that are in demand is the answer to unemployment.

By contrast, Trump offers bluster and complaint but no solutions. Like Bernie Sanders, Trump taps into voter frustration with the status quo, fingers someone to blame and promises to fix it -- as if saying makes it so. Trump would ban Muslims from entering the United States, deport millions of illegal aliens and start a trade war with China. The world quakes at the prospect of his finger on the nuclear button.

Cruz's main policy offering is a flat tax plan that erases the Internal Revenue Service, blows up the tax code and starts over. Trouble is, it would also inflate the deficit if his rosy predictions of an economic boom don't come true. Nevertheless, we can all agree tax reform is long overdue. Cruz would need to overcome the disdain his Senate colleagues feel for him to get such a plan through Congress. Also, Cruz's sneering jab at "New York values'' makes us wonder if he's capable of representing all the varied and diverse people who make up the fabric of our nation.

Kasich sees two paths forward -- one dark, one light. New York Republicans can turn toward the light by delivering a win to Kasich on Tuesday, April 19.