Republican Ohio Gov. John Kasich is busy running for reelection, but that hasn't stopped his former Fox News colleagues from promoting him as a possible 2016 presidential candidate. Fox News has praised Kasich's tenure as governor, and touted him as “a serious potential candidate for president” with a record that gives progressives “reason to fear.”

Kasich is the quintessential Fox News candidate, having used a perch at the network to profitably stay in the public eye between runs for public office. He joined Fox in 2001 after serving nine terms in Congress and left in 2009 to run for Ohio governor. He was a frequent presence on the network as a guest host for The O'Reilly Factor, and the host of the programs From The Heartland and Heroes. 

Fox News treated Kasich to numerous softball interviews during his successful 2010 run. Sean Hannity told Kasich: “You do me a favor. Go get elected governor” and “You can help us. Win the state of Ohio.” During an appearance on The O'Reilly Factor, Kasich asked for donations while Fox News put his website address on-screen (which drew a complaint, later dismissed, from the Democratic Governors Association).

Kasich's gubernatorial campaign also received fundraising support from Fox News. Sean Hannity headlined a “high-dollar fund-raiser” for Kasich in October 2009. Mike Huckabee appeared at a 2009 Kasich campaign event. Fox News founder Rupert Murdoch and his then-wife contributed $20,000 to the campaign, and then-Fox News parent company News Corporation gave $1 million to the Republican Governors Association, which helped elect Kasich.

Kasich has claimed he's not interested in running for president in 2016, telling an Ohio reporter that he “tried to run for president back at the end of the '90s and 2000 and no one was interested ... Now, I'm not interested.” In his gubernatorial campaign, Kasich will likely face Democrat Ed FitzGerald, who has unsuccessfully asked Kasich to sign a pledge promising to serve a full term if reelected.

A 2016 Kasich campaign has been a popular topic of conversation for Fox News. While the network frequently applauds Ohio's economic performance during Kasich's tenure, the state's “rate of job growth was below the national average.” 

Fox News Sunday Anchor Chris Wallace: Kasich A “Serious Potential Candidate For President.” During his March 23 show, Wallace previewed Kasich's segment by stating, “as the 2016 race for the White House heats up, one potential GOP candidate is counting his states' economic turnaround.” Wallace later introduced Kasich by focusing on his presidential prospects:

WALLACE: With two years until the 2016 presidential election, there's a lot of talk the strongest GOP nominee would be a governor from the Midwest. One possibility from the key electoral state of Ohio is making his state's economic turnaround the basis for his re- election bid in November. Joining us now from Columbus, Ohio, Governor John Kasich and, governor, welcome back to Fox News Sunday.

Wallace's first question to Kasich was about his tenure as Ohio governor, asking: “What is the secret to your success?” Wallace later asked Kasich about criticism from FitzGerald, including about whether he would pledge to serve his entire term (Kasich dodged the question).

While previewing his show on the March 20 broadcast of Fox News Radio's Kilmeade & Friends, Wallace said Kasich has led a “big turnaround in the economy of Ohio” and he “really is a serious potential candidate for president in 2016 even though at this point he's saying, 'not interested.'”

FoxNews.com's promotion of Kasich's interview focused on Kasich and 2016:

Fox VP Cavuto: George Soros “Has Reason To Fear You” In 2016. Fox News host and vice president Neil Cavuto told Kasich on the March 18 edition of Your World that he's heard “reports” that financier (and Media Matters donor) George Soros “fears you the most of any prospective candidate.” Cavuto then listed Kasich's “success” as governor, and said Soros “has reason to fear you.” At the end of the interview, Kasich told Cavuto, “you're the best.”

FoxNews.com Op-Ed: “Why Progressive, George Soros Crowd Fears Run By Ohio Governor.” Republican strategist and lobbyist Van Hipp wrote a March 7 piece touting Kasich's tenure as governor as a “shining example” of “why the free enterprise system works.” Hipp added: “The more I thought about it, the more I realized why the George Soros crowd fears Kasich the most. They can't demonize him and use the same old worn out liberal playbook they've used against national GOP contenders in recent years.”

Fox News Contributors Tout Kasich As Contender. Kasich has been mentioned by Fox News personalities during discussions about 2016 presidential candidates. Sean Hannity said on January 21 that he wants a president big field with Kasich, among others. Contributor George Will said on February 16's Fox News Sunday that the race will be decided in the Midwest and said “you have to get three more presidential candidates out of those states -- Governors Kasich in Ohio, Snyder in Michigan and Walker in Wisconsin.” And contributor Karl Rove also mentioned Kasich as a potential candidate on the January 13 edition of The O'Reilly Factor.