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Jeb Bush Jumps On Florida's GOP Cash
by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700
Copyright
December 16 2014
All Rights Reserved.
Leaping out of the pack to get his hands on
GOP donor cash, 62-year-old former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush signaled intent to
start his 2016 campaign for president.
Hoping the bad taste left by his brother former President George W. Bush
has disappeared for voters, Jeb offers himself as the best option to run against
former Secretary of State and U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Bush sees himself as the only moderate Republican left capable of competing with Hillary for
crossover Democrats and independents, something more polarizing candidates can’t
do. Posting his
thoughts on Facebook Dec. 15, Jeb talked about the “future of our nation,” so
polarized under his brother and President Barack Obasma that little gets done in
Washington. Despite his lack of
foreign policy experience, Bush hopes to sell himself to voters as the best
alternative to finally ending Washington’s gridlock.
Bush’s advisors urged him to get ahead of the fund raising curve, where
the GOP’s biggest donors line up behind the most viable candidates. “As a result of the these
conversations and thoughtful consideration of the kind of strong leadership I
think America needs, I have decided to actively explore the possibility of
running for the president of the United States,” Bush wrote on his Facebook
page. Bush must sell voters that he
can continue the economic recovery begun under Obama. Voters recall how his brother left
the country in the worst recession since the Great Depression. While there’s public recognition of
the Bush family name, it isn’t necessarily positive, especially since Bush-43
came to end January 20, 2009.
Getting a jump on early fundraising won’t erase a host of family negatives, more
associated in voters’ minds with economic problems and foreign wars.
Jeb’s stint as Florida governor isn’t without controversy, especially in
2000 when his brother ran for president.
Locked in a virtual dead-heat with former Vice President and Democratic
presidential nominee Al Gore, the public recalls agonizing recounts or “hanging
chads” and missing Democratic ballots in West Palm Beach. When the dust cleared and the U.S.
Supreme Court ruled Florida went to “W,” it wasn’t without controversy,
especially over how thousands of West Palm Beach ballots disappeared or were
disqualified because errors on the so-called “butterfly ballot.” Even without all the controversy,
it’s likely Jeb would face questions over his economic credentials, not to
mention his foreign policy background.
With the U.S. facing daunting economic challenges, especially due to
geopolitical uncertainties, Bush will have a tough sell to skeptical voters.
Tallahassee-based fundraising lobbyist Brian Ballard believes that,
whatever Bush’s shortcomings, he can still freeze other candidates out of the
fundraising competition. “He
freezes everyone out,” said Ballard, including popular Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fl.),
considered a possible 2016 presidential candidate. “Florida will be off-limits to other
presidential candidates should Jeb decide to run,” putting a lock in Florida on
GOP fundraising. Since Obama won
Flordia’s electoral votes in the last two presidential elections, there’s no
assurance that Hillary couldn’t do the same thing. Whatever Jeb’s popularity as governor, it’s a whole new ballgame running for national
office. Regardless of his
governor’s stint in Florida, there’s going to be a lot of doubts raised about
Jeb’s economic credentials and foreign policy experience, leaving him vulnerable
in a national election.
However the GOP positions itself against Hillary, if she decides to run,
they’re running against a mega-trend that has the American voters ready for a
woman president. Against Hillary’s
wishes in 2008, American voters decided it was time for a black president,
handing Obama, regardless of all his policies, two terms. Jeb’s decision to run for president
will be based on shrewd calculations by the nation’s most respected forecasters
like Nate Silver, crunching numbers before he jumps in. If Jeb decides to jump in, it will
increase his name recognition, whether he loses or not, paying dividends for a
future political ambitions. Bush’s
“moderate” credentials don’t fit conservative trends within the GOP, currently
run by 42-year-old Tea Party, Republican National Committee Chairman Reince
Priebus. Priebus and his Tea Party
friends won’t back a more moderate Republican like Jeb.
Bush’s family brand has a lot of overhauling if he’s really considering a
presidential run. While the family
has a big donor base, the evangelicals won’t automatically fall into Jeb’s camp,
like they did “W.” Without any real
foreign policy background, Jeb will be at a distinct advantage during the 2016
campaign, promising to shape up as a referendum on U.S. foreign policy. If he runs, like former
Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney bashing Obama economy, he’ll hand the presidency
to the Democratic nominee. Bush’s
main selling point is his moderate credentials, promising to work cooperatively
with Democrats. If he runs on his
foreign policy background, he loses by a landslide against a more experience
Democratic candidate. Whoever
eventually wins the GOP nomination, they’re going to have tough sell convincing
voters they can do better job on the economy.
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