And suddenly, there's a hot rumor about a presidential ticket for 2020—featuring a Democrat and a Republican, no less. The potential pairing is GOP Gov. John Kasich of Ohio and Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper of Colorado, reports Mike Allen at Axios. The two (nicknamed "the Johns") have been making the rounds of late talking about health care, and things are going so well that they're reportedly toying with the idea of an independent bid in 2020, with Kasich as the presidential contender. Coverage:
- Nothing formal: CNN has a source familiar with the discussions who confirms all of the above, while stressing that it's all informal at this point. "The idea of a joint ticket has been discussed, but not at an organizational or planning level."
- Expanding platform: Both Axios and CNN say that while the two have been focusing on health care for now, they'll be expanding their platform in the near future. Job creation and immigration will be two main topics, with a particular focus on helping those losing jobs to automation. A podcast or perhaps a cable show also may be in the works.