Kasich: I consider myself the 'Prince of Light and Hope'

By NICK GASS 01/20/16 06:38 AM EST

For John Kasich, the Ohio governor's rise in New Hampshire could be explained as a battle between light and dark.

"I think first of all, I have the experience and I’ve had success and I’ve been a reformer all of my life," he said in an interview with Hugh Hewitt on his radio program Tuesday evening. "Look, we have a lot of candidates who like the 'Prince of Darkness.' I consider myself the 'Prince of Light and Hope,' and I don’t spend all my time getting people riled up about how bad everything is."

Kasich cited a recent American Research Group poll in New Hampshire that showed him coming in a close second to Donald Trump, who has essentially led nearly every state and national poll for the better part of the last six months. (The RealClearPolitics average shows Kasich in second place in New Hampshire, too, but further behind.)
In remarking upon his perceived inroads among voters, Kasich said that Americans are "hungry" for someone who can solve their problems.

"People don’t want to have to live in the lane of depression. They want to believe that in America, it can all work, and I think it’s working. But look, I’ve been doing this for a long, long time. People weren’t paying attention and we’re rising right now. I don’t know what tomorrow will bring, but what I’m happy about, Hugh, is that we’re raising the bar, we have a positive message and makes people come and say, 'You represent hope.' What can be better than that, man? What can be better than that?"

Asked to explain why he was doing better now than when he was campaigning as "irascible," Kasich said, "Well, I’ve been happy this entire campaign, Hugh."

Kasich then talked about why he wasn't campaigning much in Iowa, citing the fact that it is a comparatively "very big state with four or five media markets," as well as the fact that he entered the race in July, "and there’s one of me to go around, which my wife is thrilled about."

"Though when it comes to New Hampshire, it’s the reason we’re here is that it’s 1.2 million people and I'll tell you what, it’s like running for mayor or running for Congress. And so I’ve done more town halls than anybody running for president in any of the states and people get the measure of you," he said. "I’m from Columbus, Ohio, we don’t national press people to come to Ohio unless there is a disaster."
"Or the Cavs or the Browns," noted Hewitt, a native of Ohio.


Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2016/01/john-kasich-new-hampshire-rise-218004#ixzz3xoLETxeV

I'd be fine with Kasich as the "R" nominee, it would be interesting to see what would happen if he can finish New Hampshire in 2nd place in a convincing fashion.  Would he get a bump then "nationwide"?

In the general election against Sanders or Clinton, I would vote for Kasich without a doubt

I'm undecided.
But, I am interested in a Kasich run. Hopefully he finishes a strong second in NH and gets a well-deserved look nationwide.