Jeb Bush, no longer the Republicans’ Mr. Inevitable
- 9 years ago
What happens when a candidate whose greatest strength is the sense of inevitability surrounding him becomes something short of inevitable?
That's the question that is facing former Florida governor Jeb Bush's presidential candidacy amid only so-so polling numbers nationally and in early-voting states and that is behind a fundraising operation premised on "shock and awe" but, to date, is producing mostly "awww."
Bush's campaign was built to look a lot like his older brother's successful bid for the White House in 2000.
Huge amounts of fundraising and the best staff money can buy, sprinkled with establishment blessings - mostly in the form of endorsements - were deemed necessary.
But it has become quite clear over the past few months that not only is Jeb Bush not George W. but that the GOP of 2015 is not the Republican Party of 2000.
That's the question that is facing former Florida governor Jeb Bush's presidential candidacy amid only so-so polling numbers nationally and in early-voting states and that is behind a fundraising operation premised on "shock and awe" but, to date, is producing mostly "awww."
Bush's campaign was built to look a lot like his older brother's successful bid for the White House in 2000.
Huge amounts of fundraising and the best staff money can buy, sprinkled with establishment blessings - mostly in the form of endorsements - were deemed necessary.
But it has become quite clear over the past few months that not only is Jeb Bush not George W. but that the GOP of 2015 is not the Republican Party of 2000.