Kasich Beating Jeb, Christie in NH State Polls

John Kasich may not have had a stellar performance at this week's fourth Republican presidential primary debate, but the Ohio governor is leading both Jeb Bush and Chris Christie in New Hampshire polls.

According to an average of state polls on Real Clear Politics, Kasich leads Bush, 8.7 percent to 7.3. Christie is ranked eighth with 5 percent.

But he still has a lot of catching up to do in order to compete with frontrunners Donald Trump, Ben Carson, and Marco Rubio — who are polling in New Hampshire at 27.3 percent, 14.7 percent, and 10.3 percent, respectively.

In an in-depth look at the Ohio governor's campaign this week by New York magazine's Gabriel Sherman, it's clear Kasich isn't sure what it is about his impeccable conservative background that's holding him back.

"I’ve got more conservative credentials than just about anybody," Kasich told Sherman. "I’ve cut more taxes, balanced more budgets. I am the conservative."

He was referring to a top-notch resume: former House budget chair and Armed Services Committee member, former Fox News host, and a "twice-elected, Jesus-loving, pro-life governor of a must-win swing state," according to Sherman.

But that hasn't stopped the press criticisms, which were particularly strong after Kasich appeared to lose his temper at Tuesday's Fox Business debate in Milwaukee.

Brent Bozell, chair of ForAmerica, tweeted after the debate:

Remember Wile E. Coyote going over the cliff and landing with a pathetic 'poof'? That was the Kasich campaign tonight.

— Brent Bozell (@BrentBozell) November 11, 2015

"In a GOP primary held hostage by radicals who want to blow up the system, Kasich’s reasonableness — he supports the Obamacare Medicaid expansion, backs immigration reform, and believes climate change is real — makes him the radical in the race," Sherman wrote.

"If there was a party of the center, John Kasich would be the leading candidate," Republican pollster Frank Luntz told the writer. “It’s tough for him to be successful because there’s not a lot of centrist Republicans anymore.”

But Kasich is committed to his campaign strategy and his positions.

"I’m not going to change,” Kasich told Sherman. "It’s not worth it to me. Winning wrong is not winning in my mind."

Related Stories:

• 10 Reasons John Kasich Is Rising With Conservatives
• These 8 Issues Stand Out to John Kasich As He Seeks Presidency