By Eric Stock
CLEVELAND – A Republican strategist said it’s a sign that Donald Trump doesn’t really want the responsibility of being president.
Former Illinois GOP chairman Pat Brady said he has confirmed reports that Ohio Gov. John Kasich – the candidate Brady backed – was asked by the Trump campaign to be his running mate and would have been made the most powerful vice president in history.
PODCAST: Listen to Scott’s interview with Brady on WJBC.
Brady said we don’t elect a president to outsource the job, even though he has the confidence that Trump’s running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence could handle the job.
“Indiana is a very well run state. He’s been a great congressman and he’s been a great governor too,” Brady said. “That has calmed a lot of nerves, but that’s beside the point. We are supposed to be electing someone to be president not delegate it and outsource it”
Kasich declined the offer from the Trump campaign and has avoided the GOP convention that’s in his home state.
Brady added says running mate Mike Pence has strong credentials should he have to serve in that capacity, but says his conservative views on social issue, particularly gay marriage, could alienate some independent voters.
Cruz non-endorsement
CBS News reports Ted Cruz said he told Donald Trump days ago that he was not going to endorse the Republican nominee in Wednesday night’s convention speech. His refusal to endorse him drew boos from the party faithful.
Brady quipped he still wouldn’t be surprised if Cruz caught the Trump camp off guard by the non-endorsement.
“We’ve learned from Team Trump they are not real good at vetting speeches,” Brady said, referring to the plagiarism that a Trump staffer confessed to in the Melania Trump speech on Monday.
“Even the other two speakers were not ringing endorsements.”
Brady is referring to Marco Rubio and Scott Walker who also lost to Trump in the primary.
The Trump campaign said it was trying to bring the party together by inviting all of his Republican primary opponents to speak at the convention, even those who didn’t endorse him.
Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].
