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In a general election, nominating Bush would neutralize one of Hillary Clinton’s biggest liabilities (the idea that she, too, is a figure from the past trying to ride her last name to power). Instead of having the clear contrast that would be possible if Republicans were to name a fresh candidate, the 2016 election would devolve into a proxy battle over whether Americans want to restore the Bush or Clinton presidencies. Whether the GOP likes it or not, that isn’t a matchup that favors Republicans.
I won’t talk about the past. I’ll talk about the future. If I’m in the process of considering the possibility of running, it’s not about re-litigating anything in the past. It’s about trying to create a set of ideas and principles that will help us move forward.
— Jeb Bush (R), saying he isn’t interested in talking about the Iraq war and his brother’s role in starting it, Bloomberg reports.
I changed my mind!
— Barbara Bush, quoted by the Washington Post, on whether there have been “too many Bushes” in the White House.
Can Jeb Bush win Iowa? Of course he can. Can Jeb Bush come in fifth place in Iowa? Sure he can.
— Iowa GOP chairman Jeff Kaufmann, quoted by BuzzFeed.
16%
Jeb Bush’s lead in New Hampshire, followed by Rand Paul at 13%, Scott Walker at 12%, Chris Christie at 10%, Mike Huckabee at 6%, Ben Carson at 6% and Marco Rubio at 5%, a new Bloomberg Politics/Saint Anselm poll finds.
My dad is the greatest man alive. If anyone disagrees, we’ll go outside. Unless you’re 6’5? and 250 pounds and much younger than me and then we’ll negotiate.
— Jeb Bush, quoted by USA Today.
32%
Percentage of Florida Republicans who would vote for Jeb Bush with Mitt Romney out of the race, followed by 10 percent in Ohio and 12 percent in Pennsylvania, a new Quinnipiac poll finds. Other Republican contenders are close, or even ahead in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Mitt is a patriot and I join many in hoping his days of serving our nation and our party are not over.
— Jeb Bush, on Facebook, after Mitt Romney announced he would not run again for president.
21%
Mitt Romney’s lead among the GOP presidential field, followed by Sen. Rand Paul and Mike Huckabee at 11%, Jeb Bush at 10%, Ben Carson at 9%, Gov. Scott Walker at 8% and Sen. Marco Rubio at 5%, according to a new Fox News poll.
$500,000
Amount Republican Jeb Bush is telling donors they they must raise by March 31 to join his “national executive committee,” the Wall Street Journal reports. “A pledge form for Mr. Bush’s newly formed Right to Rise political committee offers other levels of membership: donors who collect $250,000 by March 31 can join the ‘national committee,’ $100,000 to join the ‘state executive committee’ and $50,000 for the ‘state committee.’”
