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| US Presidential campaign 2016: Jeb Bush on road to the White House looks wilted by the heat of competition | US Presidential campaign 2016: Jeb Bush on road to the White House looks wilted by the heat of competition |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Jeb Bush is set to formally plunge into the 2016 race to become President of the United States with a campaign that will emphasise both his conservative record as a former governor of Florida and his commitment to building a more inclusive Republican Party. What it will not emphasise are some of his family connections. | Jeb Bush is set to formally plunge into the 2016 race to become President of the United States with a campaign that will emphasise both his conservative record as a former governor of Florida and his commitment to building a more inclusive Republican Party. What it will not emphasise are some of his family connections. |
| Even the venue for his debut rally sent out a message of inclusion – a college campus in Miami known for the diversity of its students – as did a first campaign video released at the weekend. It featured a black woman, a Latino man and the mother of an autistic child thanking him for what he had done as governor of the state. | Even the venue for his debut rally sent out a message of inclusion – a college campus in Miami known for the diversity of its students – as did a first campaign video released at the weekend. It featured a black woman, a Latino man and the mother of an autistic child thanking him for what he had done as governor of the state. |
| “So many people could do so much better if we fixed a few things,” said Mr Bush, who was Florida governor from 1999 to 2007. “My core beliefs start with the premise that the most vulnerable in our society should be in the front of the line, not the back. And as governor, I had a chance to act on that core belief.” | “So many people could do so much better if we fixed a few things,” said Mr Bush, who was Florida governor from 1999 to 2007. “My core beliefs start with the premise that the most vulnerable in our society should be in the front of the line, not the back. And as governor, I had a chance to act on that core belief.” |
| But if Mr Bush is intent on reviving the “compassionate conservatism” message used by George W Bush when he first ran for the White House, he will duck away from his older brother’s controversial legacy. Neither he nor their father George H W Bush – both former presidents – were to be seen at last night’s event. Even the newly minted campaign logo spoke volumes in its brevity: “Jeb!” Not that anyone need ask, “Jeb who?” | But if Mr Bush is intent on reviving the “compassionate conservatism” message used by George W Bush when he first ran for the White House, he will duck away from his older brother’s controversial legacy. Neither he nor their father George H W Bush – both former presidents – were to be seen at last night’s event. Even the newly minted campaign logo spoke volumes in its brevity: “Jeb!” Not that anyone need ask, “Jeb who?” |
| “Jeb is different than George,” said the former Florida governor in an interview with CNN on the eve of his rally here. “I don’t have to disassociate myself from my family. I love them but I know that, for me to be successful, I’m going to have to show my heart and tell my story.” | “Jeb is different than George,” said the former Florida governor in an interview with CNN on the eve of his rally here. “I don’t have to disassociate myself from my family. I love them but I know that, for me to be successful, I’m going to have to show my heart and tell my story.” |
| John Ellis Bush, 62, who first signalled his interest in running last December and has since been engaged in a frenzy of fundraising, nonetheless gains advantages from the family brand. In a year when as many as 20 candidates may seek the Republican nomination, he is assured name recognition and a wide network of potential donors. | John Ellis Bush, 62, who first signalled his interest in running last December and has since been engaged in a frenzy of fundraising, nonetheless gains advantages from the family brand. In a year when as many as 20 candidates may seek the Republican nomination, he is assured name recognition and a wide network of potential donors. |
| Jeb Bush has yet to win over the Republican right and has a fight on his hands against rivals (Reuters) While his record as a conservative is solid, Mr Bush still faces scepticism from the right of the party, which recoils at his support for immigration reform and national educational standards known as Common Core. But he has refused to budge on either issue, in part in the belief that Mitt Romney sealed his own fate four years ago by pandering to the right and then trying to shift back to the centre. | |
| The assumption, meanwhile, that Mr Bush would quickly establish himself as the frontrunner has faded. He is now tied with some of his rivals nationally, notably Senator Marco Rubio, a former protégé and now US Senator from Florida, and Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin. More ominously, he is not looking especially strong in the states that kick off the nominating process, such as Iowa. | The assumption, meanwhile, that Mr Bush would quickly establish himself as the frontrunner has faded. He is now tied with some of his rivals nationally, notably Senator Marco Rubio, a former protégé and now US Senator from Florida, and Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin. More ominously, he is not looking especially strong in the states that kick off the nominating process, such as Iowa. |
| The troubles started in May when Mr Bush stumbled when asked to say if he would have invaded Iraq in 2003 as his brother did, had he known it did not have weapons of mass destruction. Only after a few days did he concede that he would not have done. Last week, while he was on a three-nation tour of Europe, Mr Bush reshuffled his campaign team, even before the campaign was launched. | The troubles started in May when Mr Bush stumbled when asked to say if he would have invaded Iraq in 2003 as his brother did, had he known it did not have weapons of mass destruction. Only after a few days did he concede that he would not have done. Last week, while he was on a three-nation tour of Europe, Mr Bush reshuffled his campaign team, even before the campaign was launched. |
| Still, there is a very long way to go even until the primary process begins – the first Republican debate will be in August – and certainly until the election in November 2016. Much can change. If Mr Bush prevails and wins the nomination, of course, the US could see a clash of dynasties; Hillary Clinton is the clear favourite, for now, to get the Democrat nod. | Still, there is a very long way to go even until the primary process begins – the first Republican debate will be in August – and certainly until the election in November 2016. Much can change. If Mr Bush prevails and wins the nomination, of course, the US could see a clash of dynasties; Hillary Clinton is the clear favourite, for now, to get the Democrat nod. |
| Marco Rubio has a Florida power base and will be vying for funds with Jeb Bush (AP) | |
| “Once Americans are reminded, shown and discover the depth of his leadership as governor and the things he accomplished, I think his numbers will rise,” said Ron Kaufman, a Republican consultant who worked for Mitt Romney in 2012 and who now backs Mr Bush for the Republican candidacy. | “Once Americans are reminded, shown and discover the depth of his leadership as governor and the things he accomplished, I think his numbers will rise,” said Ron Kaufman, a Republican consultant who worked for Mitt Romney in 2012 and who now backs Mr Bush for the Republican candidacy. |
| Perhaps most alarming for Mr Bush has been Senator Rubio’s sudden rise to the top of the early polling. He is building his campaign in part on contrasting his youthfulness with the ages of Mr Bush and Mrs Clinton. Once mentor and pupil, Messrs Bush and Rubio are now locked in unexpected rivalry. Winning the primary in Florida is likely to be a live-or-die proposition for both of them. | Perhaps most alarming for Mr Bush has been Senator Rubio’s sudden rise to the top of the early polling. He is building his campaign in part on contrasting his youthfulness with the ages of Mr Bush and Mrs Clinton. Once mentor and pupil, Messrs Bush and Rubio are now locked in unexpected rivalry. Winning the primary in Florida is likely to be a live-or-die proposition for both of them. |
| But Mr Rubio struck a conciliatory tone. “In politics, people throw around the word ‘friend’ so much it often has little real meaning,” he said in a statement. “This is not one of those times. When I call Jeb Bush my friend, I mean he is someone I like, care for and respect ... He is a passionate advocate for what he believes, and I welcome him to the race.” | But Mr Rubio struck a conciliatory tone. “In politics, people throw around the word ‘friend’ so much it often has little real meaning,” he said in a statement. “This is not one of those times. When I call Jeb Bush my friend, I mean he is someone I like, care for and respect ... He is a passionate advocate for what he believes, and I welcome him to the race.” |