Republican Gov. John Kasich of Ohio is inching closer to a presidential bid as his supporters prepare to launch an organization that can raise unlimited funds from donors.
Mr. Kasich’s supporters filed paperwork Tuesday with the Ohio Secretary of State for a non-profit called “New Day for America.” The next steps will be a formal announcement of his 527 tax-exempt organization, along with filing the necessary paperwork with the Internal Revenue Service, according to a person familiar with the process. Local media in Ohio first reported the news of the fundraising mechanism.
The move suggests Mr. Kasich’s flirtations with a bid for the 2016 Republican nomination are becoming more serious. On Friday, he will travel to South Carolina — an important early voting state — for a series of public events before heading over to New Hampshire for a Republican Leadership Summit.
Washington-based attorney E. Mark Braden of Baker Hostetler is taking the lead in organizing the tax-exempt operation, according to the official filing and people familiar with the matter. In addition to extensive campaign finance experience, Mr. Braden is also deeply knowledgeable about Ohio politics, having held positions in the past with the Ohio Elections Commission and the Secretary of State in Ohio.