OH-Gov: Kasich hesitates to endorse DeWine; Cordray pounces

Ohio Gov. John Kasich has been hesitant to endorse Republican candidate Mike DeWine in the general election, and Democratic candidate Richard Cordray is taking the opportunity to win over Kasich's supporters, according to The Washington Times.

"Gov. Kasich recently said he's worried about two issues: Medicaid expansion and JobsOhio," Cordray said. "So this message is for Ohioans who agree with Gov. Kasich -- I am your candidate."

What's the story?

Cordray and DeWine are campaigning to replace Kasich as governor of Ohio. Kasich has not yet endorsed DeWine due to a dispute between them over Medicaid expansion and JobsOhio, Kasich's job creation program.

Kasich initially endorsed his Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor, who lost to DeWine in the primary.

Kasich has said that he and DeWine need to reach a compromise on those two issues before a potential endorsement. Kasich's Medicaid expansion has put him in opposition with Republicans, and DeWine has maintained that it isn't financially sustainable for the state.

According to the National Review, state costs for Medicaid have doubled the projections Kasich made at the time of the expansion.

"The question is, how aggressively do I campaign?" Kasich reportedly said at the Michigan Press Association. "And I've laid out a couple things that are important to me."

While Kasich and DeWine attempt to sort their issues out, Cordray is hoping to fill the void by appealing to those who agree with Kasich.

"I will not get rid of JobsOhio," Cordray said in a campaign video posted on Twitter on Friday. "Instead, I will work to make sure if fulfills its mission and that it is transparent and effective."

Any chance Kasich endorses Cordray?

While Kasich has said he plans to stay relatively quiet in this race "like a former president," a Kasich spokesperson told WKYC-TV that there was "no way" the governor would vote for "Elizabeth Warren-backed Richard Cordray."