Former GOP governor says Trump’s attacks on Harris follow ‘same format’ as in 2020

Former Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) criticized former President Trump’s attacks on Vice President Harris, suggesting they follow the “same format” as in 2020 and would likely lead to the same result.

“He’s following the same format that he did in 2020 if he keeps it up. Because if this gets to be a battle between personality, his personality versus hers, he’s going to lose that,” Kasich said Friday in an interview on MSNBC. “If it’s a battle on ideology and records, he’s got a shot to win that.”

Kasich, who ran against Trump in the 2016 Republican primary, has long opposed the former president and broke with his party to endorse President Biden in 2020 and even spoke on his behalf at the Democratic National Convention. In the recent interview, the former Ohio governor credited Harris for her pivot to economic issues.

“She’s starting to realize something that I think Biden should have done some time ago, which is, people are not happy with the economy,” he said. “So, I think she’s starting to say that you have to recognize that to her credit.”

The vice president unveiled her economic plan during a rally in North Carolina Friday, which includes a federal ban on price gouging and a plan to expand the Child Tax Credit.

Kasich added, however, that Democrats could struggle to make the economic case because they have held the White House for the last three years.

“I think that’s kind of a vulnerability the Democrats have. But Trump is not taking advantage of any of it,” he told MSNBC’s Ryan Nobles.

“He gets bored with things that are critical here, so that’s why he gets off script. He’s so interested in all the cheers and everything from his people,” Kasich continued. “But I just have never thought that you win elections by just going to your base and not being able to reach out to other people.”

He added, “This is what he did in 2020, and he lost.”

His comments come as even members of Trump’s own party have urged the former president to focus less on personal insults and more on policy. The GOP nominee has largely brushed off the criticism from his allies, claiming he is “entitled” to his attacks on Harris.

“As far as the personal attacks, I’m very angry at her because of what she’s done to the country,” Trump said Thursday. “I think I’m entitled to personal attacks. I don’t have a lot of respect for her. I don’t have a lot of respect for her intelligence, and I think she’ll be a terrible president.”