ASHINGTON - Representative John Kasich of Ohio shelved his Oval Office dreams yesterday and threw his support behind a ''soul brother,'' Texas Governor George Bush.
Crushed under the Bush financial steamroller - Kasich raised $1.6 million compared with the front-runner's $36 million - he was the second Republican presidential candidate to drop out of the race this week. Senator Bob Smith abandoned his GOP campaign for the White House and said he would run as an independent.
Appearing with Bush at a news conference, Kasich conceded he couldn't compete and said, ''I think you have to be man enough to take the good along with those things that are disappointing.''
The nine-term congressman said he plans to work for Republicans across the country for the next year and a half, but that he would not run for reelection next year.
Kasich heads the Budget Committee, but would have to relinquish the post after 2000 because of chairmanship term limits.
Bush and Kasich declared themselves philosophically compatible. Bush playfully encouraged speculation about Kasich as a vice presidential prospect and said, ''He's going to fit perfectly on my team.'' Kasich pledged to campaign for Bush. ''I think we're soul brothers,'' Kasich said.
Kasich said he's planning thank-you visits to Iowa and New Hampshire.
