For some, he represented the last best hope of a statesman who would govern from the center with an eye toward bridging the ever-widening partisan gap worsened by eight years of an Obama presidency.
This afternoon, that hope was dashed as the last duck took its place in the proverbial row, adding to the seeming inevitability of a Trump nomination.
Several sources, ranging from Fox News anchor Bret Baier to CNBC, reported within the hour that John Kasich would announce later today that he is suspending his campaign.
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Here’s the CNBC video:
The associated article cites sources close to the Ohio governor who report that Kasich canceled a campaign event scheduled to take place this afternoon in order to make a statement from his home state at 5 p.m. ET.
Baier went on to surmise on Twitter:
NBC reporting Kasich will suspend his campaign this afternoon. As expected when change in venue announced and speech was moved to Ohio.
— Bret Baier (@BretBaier) May 4, 2016
Stay tuned for the announcement.