Let me be upfront and honest about something just like my friend Kyle Sisk was earlier, personally I don't like John Kasich very well.  He's arrogant, rude, and has engaged in behavior towards individuals that is utterly despicable.  This is based upon what I have personally observed and in one case what a friend personally experienced and related to me.

But that said, I'm still supporting him for Governor over Strickland because I like his positions on the issues better, especially where education funding is concerned.  Strickland seems to be a heck of a nice guy and if he would quit screwing over Catholic and charter schools I'd probably support him instead.  But I digress.

This is what I know to be true at this point.  Mary Taylor does not believe that the Ohio Republican Party has supported her sufficiently in the past and now.  And when Kasich pursued her for LG she was fed up enough to take the easy way out.  That doesn't mean that Kevin DeWine pushed her out or even knew about these negotiations before hand.  She probably should have picked up the phone, scheduled a meeting with ORP etc. before cutting this deal but who knows for sure. 

My sources on this have always been reliable but the situation is also fluid and a lot of interpretation is involved.  I write about what I know and understand at the time and some may certainly quibble with it.

I should also say that my source on this is not the Executive Director of the Ohio Republican Party even though I invited him to contact me about it.  Kevin DeWine is not saying a word at this point and the Ohio Republican Party hasn't issued a statement.  I'll I can say is stay tuned, it's getting interesting.