Ohio Governor John Kasich Skipping the 2016 RNC

Occurring once every four years, both the Republican and Democratic National Conventions are a huge event for the host city. Essentially, it is comparable to the Olympics, but for politicians. Many of the volunteers I have talked to are proud that Cleveland was chosen and are trying to showcase it in the best light possible.

Now, you would think that Republican Governor of Ohio, John Kasich, would be in attendance. Such is not the case, but he is still active in both Cincinnati and Cleveland. Kasich's absence has been felt at the RNC and is adding to the perception of disunity among Republicans as a party.

This past Sunday, the day before the 2016 RNC kicked off, The Daily Caller, reports that "Ohio Republican Governor John Kasich...will speak at the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Annual Convention in Cincinnati." Read that article here. In addition, Kasich was joined by "presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton", and although invited, Donald Trump declined to speak. The convention in Cincinnati on Sunday set the tone for the rest of the week between Trump's and Kasich's teams. At a time when the GOP should be focusing on unifying the party, discord is clearly present.

Photo by Gage Skidmore (Creative Commons license)

After visiting Cincinnati, Kasich made a stop in Cleveland, but not at the Quicken Loans Arena. Cleveland.com reports that Kasich "thanked more than 1,800 supporters gathered at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame." Read that article here. While Kasich may not be the next GOP presidential nominee, he has certainly made it clear that his influence is ever present in Ohio.

In addressing Kasich's absence from the 2016 RNC, Paul Manafort is quoted on Politico saying that Kasich is "making a big mistake...and people who are part of the future of the Republican party are, frankly, going to be here participating in the program. Read that article here.

So, readers, will the GOP finally be able to come together by the end of the convention tomorrow or will there be a greater presence of discontent? Watch and listen closely to what influential Republicans do and say on their opinion of Trump and/or the state of the GOP.