Establishment Republicans Are Furious With John Kasich

Buzzfeed reports:

On Tuesday night as return after return came in and Marco Rubio failed to break through, many establishment Republicans grew angrier that John Kasich was still in the race.

One of them was Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has become increasingly frustrated with Kasich behind closed doors, three sources told BuzzFeed News. In the coming days, McConnell will be urged to more aggressively try behind the scenes to push Kasich out, sources say. One of McConnell’s closest allies, Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio, is still backing Kasich.

McConnell has become frustrated with establishment Republicans’ inability to rally behind a single candidate as Donald Trump continues to march toward the Republican nomination. McConnell has indicated he will allow Senate candidates to run ads distancing themselves from Trump, according to the New York Times, which also first reported McConnell’s frustrations with Kasich. With the Senate majority on the line, several vulnerable Republicans would face an even harder path to re-election if Trump is at the top of the ticket.

Kasich’s presence in the race almost certainly damaged Rubio on Tuesday night. As of late Tuesday, Kasich took 9.4% of the vote in Virginia — a state where Rubio likely lost by five points or less. Kasich also took 18% of the vote in Massachusetts; the same as Rubio.

Establishment anger.