IOWA CAUCUSES

Kasich encounters a pronounced problem in Iowa, U.S.

Chrissie Thompson
cthompson@enquirer.com
Republican presidential candidate, Ohio Gov. John Kasich speaks during a campaign stop at the National Czech & Slovak Museum and Library, Friday, Jan. 29, 2016, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Ia. — John Kasich made his final pre-caucus pitch Friday — at a museum where people know how to pronounce his name.

Kasich’s comments on immigration often include this crack: We need immigration in this country. If it weren’t for immigration, he’d probably be running for president of an Eastern European country like the Czech Republic.

So when the Ohio governor held a town hall meeting Friday at the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library, he assumed he was in friendly territory.

Kasich told the audience of about 135 that he has Croatian roots. And as far as he understands it, his name would be pronounced KAH-sitch in Europe.

But he pronounces it KAE-sick — a fact that countless supporters can’t seem to get right.

Hence the tutorial to would-be caucus speakers. Kasich himself won’t be here to make his case Monday.

“If you can’t go (to the caucuses) and help me, then, well, I don’t want to talk to ya!” Kasich joked.

Kasich is  polling about eighth in Iowa but is battling several candidates for second place in New Hampshire, the other early-voting state. So he is heading to the Granite State on Saturday, hoping that extra time there will help him clinch a good showing.

Still, the Ohio governor has his share of staunch Iowa supporters. One man rose and extolled his virtues, vowing several times to speak for “Governor Kasitch” on Monday.

Oh, well.

Kasich has held several tele-town halls for Iowa voters, and the scattered events he has held in the state have drawn positive receptions from voters.

“We want to exceed expectations Monday night,” said state Rep. Mary Ann Hanusa, R-Council Bluffs, who is Kasich’s Iowa chairwoman. “Crowds have been actually quite delighted by what they hear — someone who’s so refreshing because he’s so straightforward, telling it like it is. I think Iowans are hungry for that. …

“There is more support than I would have thought.”

Kasich used the Fox News debate in Des Moines on Thursday to woo New Hampshire’s pragmatic voters, and his talking time lagged that of Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida. When he tried to interject to talk about his congressional experience, moderator Megyn Kelly diverted the discussion elsewhere.

So Kasich used his final Iowa event to say his piece. “These debates are kinda, you get to talk as fast as you can for 60 seconds,” he said. “It’s pretty bizarre.”

He talked of his nine terms in Congress — first supporting, he said, “the vision and toughness of (President) Ronald Reagan that (the Berlin) Wall came tumbling down.” Then, during the administration of Democratic President Bill Clinton, Kasich helped to balance the federal budget.

During the debate, Kasich had gotten a chance to address his handling of crises as Ohio’s governor.

Fox News moderator Bret Baier asked Kasich how he would have handled the lead crisis in Flint, Mich. In that state, Gov. Rick Snyder has come under heavy fire for downplaying reports of lead in the water after the city of 100,000 switched its water supply in 2014. Snyder didn’t acknowledge problems with the water, which is now undrinkable, until October last year.

During the debate, Kasich mentioned a two-day period in 2014 during which Toledo residents couldn’t drink their water because of a toxin produced by excessive algae growth. But he didn’t mention his administration’s order last week that the village of Sebring warn its 4,300 residents about elevated lead levels found months ago in three homes and in two school drinking fountains.

The Sebring problem stems from improper chemistry at the village water plant, causing water to corrode old pipes and allow lead to leach into them. Most homes and school water sources tested by the Environmental Protection Agency have had safe water levels.

“The water going into Sebring is clean. What we experienced in Toledo was more like (Flint), a bad water source coming in. But we've been all over it, and we've handled it appropriately,” Kasich told reporters after his final campaign event. “You're gonna have things like this happen. They're happening all over the country now because of the old infrastructure. We deal with it, and we deal with it effectively.”

Kasich’s debate performance had interested Cedar Rapids accountant Cathy May, so she came to hear him Friday. But she plans to caucus for Democrat Hillary Clinton.

“He seemed the most realistic candidate,” May said. “He impresses me most of the Republicans.”

Thompson covers Kasich for The Cincinnati Enquirer, part of the USA TODAY Network.