COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio Gov. John Kasich (KAY'-sik) is doing what he can to help Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney win the battleground state — and that sometimes includes holding his tongue.
The normally vocal Kasich has seen an uptick in his approval ratings since summer. The rise has coincided with his relative silence on divisive policy changes he's advancing, including a tax increase on big oil drillers, further privatization of state functions, and whatever agency cuts he's weighing to balance Ohio's next two-year operating budget.
The Republican governor is focusing instead on email blasts to supporters, pro-Romney op-eds, upbeat rally speeches and national TV interviews touting GOP economic policies.
The man Kasich beat two years ago, former Gov. Ted Strickland, has been a vocal and visible surrogate for Obama this fall.
