Quin Hillyer, an editor at The American Spectator, makes the case in their on-line edition from today that Jeb Bush is still a viable conservative option as the Republican presidential nominee in 2008 based on the frontloaded primary calendar. For more on the former governor of Florida, see the new biography (Jeb: America’s Next Bush) of him by S.V. Date, the Tallahassee bureau chief of The Palm Beach Post, who has covered him closely and extensively for the past eight years.
February 27th, 2007 at 12:32 pm
I don’t know if he is viable, but I don’t think he is planning on it. He has already thrown his tacit support and top aides behind Romney. I don’t think that’s what you do when you are planning on jumping in late in the game.
February 27th, 2007 at 12:39 pm
Sorry, our nation will NOT go to Bush, Clinton, Bush, Bush.
For that matter, the Democrats have their own dynasty problem with Hillary
so it is unlikely they can complain about Jeb Bush.
February 27th, 2007 at 12:39 pm
Jeb Bush Campaign Manager Leads Giuliani’s Florida Efforts
From:
http://www.joinrudy 2008.com/
New York, Feb 23 – The Rudy Giuliani Presidential Exploratory Committee today announced Karen Unger as the newest member of the political team. Unger, former campaign manager for Florida Governor Jeb Bush, will serve as the Committee’s Senior Advisor for Florida. She will help organize statewide efforts on the ground and assist in building the grassroots network.
“Karen’s incredible campaign record in Florida speaks for itself. She played an integral role in both of Governor Jeb Bush’s successful gubernatorial campaigns and we are lucky to have her,” said Committee Executive Director Mike DuHaime. “Karen’s experience communicating with the people of Florida will help us spread Rudy Giuliani’s message of proven leadership for America throughout the state.”
February 27th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
The rumors have been swirling that Jeb is rethinking his unofficial endorsement of Romney.
Re: Jeb & the presidency:
I really doubt that all of the Bush ’04 guys that have signed on with McCain would have done so had they not been told that Jeb is truly sitting this one out. I know that many of them signed with the caveat that they can leave should Jeb or Condi enter the race, but it would be far too late for them to do so at the point in time that Hillyer is discussing.
February 27th, 2007 at 12:53 pm
Kavon,
You have to come up with something more than you stating there is a rumor and one person going to team Rudy. There is abundant evidence stretching back for months that Jeb is behind Romney.
February 27th, 2007 at 1:09 pm
Jason,
This is one example.
February 27th, 2007 at 1:10 pm
Jeb’s a solid candidate, and George Bush continues to poll well among Republicans, so perhaps Jeb could win the primary. But if so, winning the general election would be a challenge to say that least.
February 27th, 2007 at 1:30 pm
Kavon,
Andrew Sullivan is not credible on issues relating to Romney or Rudy. In fact, Andrew Sullivan is rarely credible at all. Again, as Jason notes, nearly all of Bush’s people have been breaking for Romney. His sister is holding a Romney fundraiser next week. Bush worked, reportedly at Romney’s behest, as recently as two weeks ago to attempt to get a Florida straw poll. To add to all that, Romney and Jeb are extraodinarily similar in management style. Both are dataheads, who spend more time pouring over reports and listening to diverging viewpoints, then any other function of government. Whatever you think of Giuliani’s management style, it is hardly comparable to Jeb’s. In fact, Rudy’s been accused by his critics of being recklessly uniformed about the finer points of government. I just see no good reason to suspect that Jeb’s allegiances have changed. And I’m certainly not going to take the word of Rudy shill extraodinaire, Andrew Sullivan.
February 27th, 2007 at 1:37 pm
The one thing Hillyer said that makes sense to me is that the anti-dynasty-argument against Jeb would have less force in 2008 against Hillary Clinton. More to the point, just think about what force it would have in 2012 or 2016 during an assumed Hillary Presidency. In that light, Jeb almost has to run in 2008 if he really wants to run at all.
February 27th, 2007 at 2:06 pm
Andrew Sullivan = Zero credibility
February 27th, 2007 at 2:06 pm
Jeb Bush and Newt Gingrich are very plausible 2008 presidential draft targets, and we better keep our eyes on this. Forget about whether or not they have previously expressed an interest in running for president in 2008 because both are clearly interested in gaining the office whenever a good chance to do so may present itself.
February 27th, 2007 at 2:27 pm
Uhh… Notice I phrased this as “rumors”, not facts…
February 27th, 2007 at 2:45 pm
Earth to R42008!
The American people are soooooo over Bush.
Unfair as it might be, his brother would not have a shadow of a scintilla of a hope of being elected in 08.
February 27th, 2007 at 3:17 pm
Tano. I sooooooo agree with you. (Notice I added one more ‘o’)
February 27th, 2007 at 4:33 pm
Since when is Andrew Sullivan a “Rudy shill extraodinaire”? He’s not high on Romney, but then again neither are a lot of folks. He’s always been a big McCain guy and he’s infatuated with Obama right now.
February 27th, 2007 at 6:23 pm
Bush ain’t going to run for President. Winning the General when your brother is sitting at 30% approval after 8 years is not a good starting point. I suppose he could run on the grounds of: “I have experience in Florida, I wouldn’t stuff up like George did with Katrina”.
More interesting though is, would a Presidential nominee (Romney?) pick Bush as his VP? It would lock in Florida, and the conservative vote. May be a smart move. What do people think?
February 27th, 2007 at 7:21 pm
JayPe,
I happen to like Jeb and all, but having him on the national ticket is electoral suicide. Same thing with Gingrich for that matter (sorry Republius!).
February 27th, 2007 at 8:02 pm
LJ,
Who would you pick for VP if you were Romney or Guiliani, having just won the Primary?
February 27th, 2007 at 8:36 pm
Kavon,
You posted that on the 13th. Three days later Bush was quoted:
Something post Feb. 17th is needed.