The Burning Bush Question
There have been a few times in American history where one family has dominated the political landscape. When Americans think of political dynasties, the first family that typically comes to mind is the Kennedy family, but there have been others, and in the last two decades it is has been the Bush family. To date the Bush family has had two presidents, a vice president, a Supreme Court Justice, two senators, and two governors. Now it is Jeb Bush who is pursuing the presidency, as he vies for the GOP nomination in a crowded field.
When Bush first announced his campaign, many believed he would be the establishment’s pick. He’s got the name, he’s been Governor of a key swing state, he has deep pockets and organizational know-how—all keys to running a successful campaign. But funny things sometimes happen. What once seemed inevitable to some has come into question as newcomers have stepped into the spot light.
Now the burning question is ‘can Bush win?’
Though Bush is not at the bottom of the polling data, according to Real Clear Politics, he averages at number five across all of the most recent and major polls. Just this week, one of Bush’s most significant donors, T. Boone Pickens, announced that he plans to make a donation to Ben Carson’s campaign, this on the heels of having hosted a fundraiser for Carly Fiorina last month. Boone’s spokesperson said “He still believes in [Jeb]….it’s [just] kind of like running in molasses.”
Despite insistence from Bush supporters that the campaign is exactly where they want to be, from the outside looking in it appears the campaign is struggling to gain the major support it needs from voters. In an article by the Washington Post analyzing a Pew poll, voters are now saying that they care less about experience and more about new ideas and approaches to the problems facing America. This echoes in the polls that put Trump and Carson, both outsiders in the political world, at the top of the leader board. And it doesn’t help that social media and the MSM pounces on every misconstrued comment. When Bush was asked by a reporter to respond to the Oregon school shooting he called for caution in jumping to more gun control. He stated “I had this challenge as governor. Look, stuff happens, there is always a crisis. And impulse is always to do something, and it’s not necessarily the right thing to do.” However, what was picked up was that Bush’s response to a tragic situation was that “stuff happens.”
Regardless of the obstacles, the Bush campaign carries on, and the support and organization it is amassing is not to be underestimated. Eric Fehrnstrom, a top political advisor to Mitt Romney, said “Romney won the nomination because of the discipline he showed on the campaign trail, the money he amassed through impressive donor networks, and the strength of the organization he put together…Bush has those things too, so it would be a mistake to count him out.”
Indeed, Bush does have one of the largest campaign organizations with big name staffers, advisors, consultants and branches in several states. In addition, Bush’s Super Pac, Right to Rise, has raised more money year to date than any other outside group—adding to the war chest of an individual with a family well accustomed to fundraising. So while that top tier candidates duke it out, Jeb Bush continues to crisscross the country spreading his message, answering questions, and expecting to be the tortoise emerging from behind the “Bushes” at the finish line.
