Primary challenge to President Trump? John Kasich doesn't have an answer yet

HENNIKER, N.H. – Trying to figure out whether Ohio Gov. John Kasich is going to challenge President Donald Trump?

Kasich returned Tuesday to New Hampshire, home to the nation's first presidential primary. His remarks there left the door open for nearly every possibility.

One theory: He's running – as a Republican

The governor criticized Trump's recent declaration that Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, which protects undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children, is dead. Kasich, speaking at New England College, questioned the president's desire to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Oval Office. Kasich also touted the importance of a free press – a clear contrast with Trump. 

The governor even offered this aside about New Hampshire voters' picking Trump over Kasich in the 2016 GOP primary. 

"You don’t go for fools. Well, most of the time.”

Or: He's running – as an independent 

Kasich compared Republicans and Democrats to two department stores in Manchester, N.H. – one red and one blue. 

“Neither department store has anything to offer so guess what happens? The millennials are saying, ‘I don’t like either of those. You better give me something I like.’ And that creates a dynamism inside of our country that, to me, is really exciting.”

Or: Nope, not running in 2020 

"You don’t have to be in public life, per se, to get something done," said Kasich, praising Florida students protesting gun violence. 

When asked directly about his 2020 plans, Kasich embarked on a six-minute response that amounted to "I'm not sure."

"It's like Dan Rather asking Ted Kennedy why he wanted to be president and he froze and that was the end of it," Kasich said. "I don't know what I'm going to do."

Actions speak louder than words

Kasich spent his time in New Hampshire dining with prominent politicos like former state attorney general Tom Rath, former U.S. Sen. John E. Sununu and lobbyist Bruce Berke; meeting with New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu; and chatting with supporters of his most recent presidential campaign. He ate a Jim Dandy sundae at Friendly's and visited a famous New Hampshire diner.

Kasich met with national media and local press, even promising to return to the New Hampshire Union Leader in November. 

He was greeted by some encouraging poll numbers in New Hampshire: Kasich was just six percentage points behind Trump in a poll conducted by Manchester-based American Research Group. (Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake, who recently visited New Hampshire, was 16 percentage points behind the president.)

How New Hampshire voters responded

Karen Cervantes, a longtime Kasich supporter from Lebanon, N.H., said if the Ohio governor formed a third party, she would be the first to join. But she's not sure that Kasich could challenge Trump as a Republican.

"If he has to primary Trump, I don't know what would happen," Cervantes said. 

Trump's actions – if not always his words – are popular with New Hamshire's GOP voters. Low unemployment, tax reform, fewer regulations and a conservative U.S. Supreme Court justice are all important victories, said John Lyons, a Portsmouth attorney active in GOP politics. 

"People in New Hampshire look favorably on the president," Lyons said. "However, I know people in New Hampshire would appreciate somewhat of a different tone."

Justin Douglas, of Weare, N.H., said he understands why Trump's message was so popular in 2016 and could be again.

Douglas used to work in the lumber industry, but his family's company, Granite State Forest Products, couldn't compete with Canadian exports. Trump's promise to overhaul the North American Free Trade Agreement could save jobs, said Douglas, who now works in heating and air conditioning.

Doug Masery works at a yarn studio near the college where Kasich spoke. He is even less optimistic about Kasich's presidential chances.

"That man doesn't have a shot,"  Masery said.

Whether Kasich has a shot or not, he plans to return to New Hampshire soon.

"I still love it," Kasich said. "I'll probably be back sometime this summer, maybe just to come up for a day or two and kind of enjoy myself. Renew acquaintances."

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