And then you have this Trump phenomenon that is not ideological per se.” “We have varying forms of conservative thought. “We’re fractured,” Bush said in the interview aboard his bus. The so-called “establishment lane’’ in the election will open up for Florida Senator Marco Rubio, the young, less tested former ally of Bush who burst onto the national scene in 2010 as an insurgent Tea Party figure. ![]() It’s not just Bush who is in danger of being capsized by Donald Trump and Ted Cruz, but also Ohio Governor John Kasich and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. In quiet conversations at the Concord Courtyard Marriott, they seize on any bit of good news and hope for a breakthrough moment they hope that New Hampshire - with its history of primary night surprises - can deliver.īut if things don’t work out that way, the failures of Bush’s quest to extend the family dynasty could serve as a crushing referendum on the mainstream Republican establishment. But now, just a few days before the New Hampshire vote, he seems like he’s alone in a rowboat, furiously pushing against the current.īush and his aides say he could still bounce back here. And some Republican governors and senators already like Bush and are holding back their endorsements in part because they aren’t sure how strong of a candidate he is with actual voters.Bush began a year ago at the helm of a steamship of a campaign, with all the advantages that his family pedigree, corporate political money, and establishment backing conferred. His aides have suggested that Bush will rise in the polls sharply once his campaign starts running commercials and taking other steps to illustrate he was a true conservative in Florida, not the moderate he is often portrayed to be. Now, with his fundraising strong, Bush needs to start winning both party elites and ultimately voters. Marco Rubio, has to determine if he wants to pump millions into Rubio’s campaign if that money is unlikely to defeat Bush. John Kasich, who is entering the race next month, to convince wealthy Republicans he can overcome Bush.Įven Sheldon Adelson, the billionaire casino magnate who is rumored to favor Florida Sen. It’s unlikely people who have donated $25,000 or $100,000 to Bush will defect to one of his rivals.Īnd donors like to back a winner, so it will hard for Ohio Gov. Just as significantly, by signing up those 500 big-donors, people like New York Jets owner Woody Johnson, Bush is denying other candidates the ability to match his fundraising. More than 500 people donated more than $25,000 to Bush, an indication of deep support from some very wealthy individuals who likely don’t live in Iowa or New Hampshire. (Bush’s PAC, to be sure, was targeting big contributions, not trying to get a large number of individual contributors like Sanders’ official campaign.) Compare that to longshot Democratic candidate and Vermont senator Bernie Sanders, who cited 250,000 individual donors. ![]() Right to Rise said that more than 9,900 people donated. The Republican donor class is largely composed of people who either support gay marriage or don’t want the party to talk about the issue, while many conservative activists in states like Iowa remain passionately opposed to same-sex unions.Īnd because super PACs can accept unlimited donations, it’s not totally clear how broad of a group of people gave Bush money. And Republican donors, particularly in New York City, California and Washington, D.C., tend to be more moderate conservatives like Bush. ![]() Bush, unlike other candidates, attended fundraisers almost daily in the first three months of the year. ![]() Many of the fundraisers who supported his father and brother joined Jeb Bush’s campaign, with some citing that history and loyalty as the reason. In this race, Jeb Bush’s winning of the early fundraising contest was expected.
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