WASHINGTON — Even as Republicans grow increasingly pessimistic about winning the presidential election, they are not rallying behind Gov. John Kasich, who appears to be the party's strongest candidate in November against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the likely Democratic nominee. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, 2012 GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney and some other establishment Republicans have endorsed Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, even though he is so disliked by many GOP officials that former House Speaker John Boehner referred to him this month as “Lucifer.” Republican officials and analysts say they have spurned Kasich because they see Cruz as the only realistic option to wrest...
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