Rick Caruso, real estate developer of The Grove at the Farmers Market shopping mall, has been hired by the John Kasich Campaign to be National Finance Chair and California campaign co-chair, according to news reports. Political observers say the move illustrates the increasing importance of the California primary on June 7, as the Republican nomination for the presidency seems less certain with front-runner Donald J. Trump appearing to struggle in recent polls.
Caruso told the Daily News he joined the effort because he believes Kasich is the only GOP hopeful polling well enough against Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton to potentially beat her in November.
“Nobody is going to have the delegate math, so it’s going to be some sort of brokered convention,” Caruso said by phone Thursday. “It’s going to the floor. Nobody will win the first ballot, and on the second ballot, they will vote for someone who is qualified and someone who would win the general election,” said Caruso.
Caruso is the founder of Caruso Affiliated that also developed The Americana at Brand in Glendale, the Commons at Calabasas and is currently working on Palisades Village in the Pacific Palisades. Caruso also served as president of the Los Angeles Police Commission and a member of the Board of Water and Power Commissioners.
