Jim, my one experience with Kasich is less awe-inspiring. It was on Inauguration Day, 1997, as I was leaving a downtown D.C. reception, waiting in a crowd of people for the elevator. When it arrived, who stepped out but late-arriving John Kasich. On seeing such a crowd he seemed rather bewildered, his eyes darting around as if lost in the headlights. "Great day, great day," is all he could say.
Bill Clinton's reinauguration made it a great day? Perhaps he was simply being patriotic and celebrating the process. Still, it made me wonder. Next thing I learned was that Kasich is a Grateful Dead fan. That would explain the dazed look.