With downstater Republican John Kasich running for governor, know any upstater prefered by fans, allies and maybe even Kasich as his running mate?

Right, it could be Lt. Gov. Matt Dolan, whose name keeps popping up on the short list.

He's known here in Northeast Ohio and especially in his Geauga County hometown as state Rep. Matt Dolan, R-Russell Township.

So it could be the Kasich/Dolan team seeking the GOP intraparty nomination in the partisan May primary next year.

Then it would be Republicans vs. Democrats in the November general election of 2010.

--David W. Jones