I realize this isn't an original theory, but I think it has more plausibility than many are assuming.
Theory: Kasich is staying in the GOP race because he's reached a deal with Trump to be his VP if Trump wins the nomination. While this might sound ludicrous on its surface, put yourself in Kasich's shoes and consider the likelihood of a President Trump facing some kind of scandal, impeachment, indictment, international incident, or act of violence very early on in his Presidency. Ask yourself what VP in history would have ever been in a 'one heartbeat away' situation more tenuous than being second in command to Donald Trump?
Strategically, it benefits Trump in a number of ways, the most obvious being Kasich's appeal to sane Republicans and other global stakeholders who fear Trump as a loose candidate. When Trump has to shift into general election mode, he will need help to sell people hard on the dubious notion that he's not completely deranged and could actually govern. In a more proximate sense, it also presents Trump with a viable nomination path he currently lacks. Assuming no one goes into Cleveland with a majority, the second ballot comes down to a Trump vs. Cruz showdown that most people now assume that Trump will probably lose once delegates become unbound. While Cruz is doing a good job of lobbying those potential delegates for now, a Kasich VP selection could deliver all (or most) of Kasich's delegates to Trump that would never have otherwise considered doing so. Within the context of the first part of my theory, they could now do so with a reasonable expectation that supporting a Trump-Kasich ticket actually presents a higher than average likelihood of elevating their man to the Presidency. Choosing Kasich could also assuage the fears of many current Trump delegates and prevent them from bailing for Cruz, who is almost universally loathed by his own party leadership and is also so obviously a closeted homosexual.
(kidding about the last part. maybe. or not? if you had to trust Cruz to bang your wife for some reason, could you really count on him? honestly?)
Thoughts?
Theory: Kasich is staying in the GOP race because he's reached a deal with Trump to be his VP if Trump wins the nomination. While this might sound ludicrous on its surface, put yourself in Kasich's shoes and consider the likelihood of a President Trump facing some kind of scandal, impeachment, indictment, international incident, or act of violence very early on in his Presidency. Ask yourself what VP in history would have ever been in a 'one heartbeat away' situation more tenuous than being second in command to Donald Trump?
Strategically, it benefits Trump in a number of ways, the most obvious being Kasich's appeal to sane Republicans and other global stakeholders who fear Trump as a loose candidate. When Trump has to shift into general election mode, he will need help to sell people hard on the dubious notion that he's not completely deranged and could actually govern. In a more proximate sense, it also presents Trump with a viable nomination path he currently lacks. Assuming no one goes into Cleveland with a majority, the second ballot comes down to a Trump vs. Cruz showdown that most people now assume that Trump will probably lose once delegates become unbound. While Cruz is doing a good job of lobbying those potential delegates for now, a Kasich VP selection could deliver all (or most) of Kasich's delegates to Trump that would never have otherwise considered doing so. Within the context of the first part of my theory, they could now do so with a reasonable expectation that supporting a Trump-Kasich ticket actually presents a higher than average likelihood of elevating their man to the Presidency. Choosing Kasich could also assuage the fears of many current Trump delegates and prevent them from bailing for Cruz, who is almost universally loathed by his own party leadership and is also so obviously a closeted homosexual.
Thoughts?