Kasich Is Mulling a Presidential Bid

House Budget Committee Chairman John R. Kasich, in a television interview, indicated that he would announce a bid for the presidency next year, but a spokesman said later that no decision had been made. The Ohio Republican was asked on NBC’s “Meet the Press” when he would declare his intentions for the 2000 presidential race. “When is John Kasich going to announce when he is running for president?” NBC moderator Tim Russert asked. “Not until 1999,” Kasich said. After the program, a spokesman for the congressman said Kasich misunderstood Russert’s question and did not mean to indicate that a decision had been made on a presidential run.