Posts Tagged “Jeb Bush”

In yet another sign that for some folks too much is never enough, Jeb Bush is eyeing a Senate run in 2010. Via Politico:

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush — the son of one president and the brother of another — has been working the phones since Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.) announced earlier this month that he won’t seek reelection in 2010. Sources say Bush hasn’t made up his mind about running for Martinez’ seat, but that he’s getting green lights from would-be contributors and blessings from Republican Party leaders.

One would think that the name “Bush” would be political poison for the next ten generations. Apparently, one would be wrong:

Although Bush’s older brother will leave the White House next month with approval ratings around 30 percent, sources say that the former Florida governor is hearing from GOP leaders that the Bush family name won’t be a barrier if he decides to enter the race.

“Quite the opposite, actually,” said one source close to Jeb Bush. “What he’s found is that everyone is encouraging him to run. It’s actually been a little overwhelming.”

This is largely based on Jeb’s not-entirely-incompetent record as governor of Florida, but the bar has been set low when the lack of flailing, disastrous incompetence is seen as sufficient qualification in and of itself.

While it’s true that Jeb has always been considered the smart one, we would do well to remember that, like other smart ones, this is at best a relative measure, as a small gallery will attest:

I mentioned yesterday that Sen. Mel Martinez (R-FL) has announced that he doesn’t plan to run for reelection in 2010. There is going to be stiff competition for his seat and it was even being mentioned (as somewhat of a long shot) that former Governor Jeb Bush might put his name into the race. 

I began a draft post this morning based on information from Marc Ambinder that the “long shot” might be decidedly shorter than expected: 

Two sources close to Jeb Bush, including one who has spoken to the former Florida governor within the past few hours, say he is seriously considering a run for Senate now that incumbent Republican Mel Martinez has retired.

“He is receiving a lot of encouragement from both in and out of the state,” an longtime Bush adviser said tonight. “He is going to take his time and approach this very methodically.”  Bush will weigh, according to this adviser, how a run would impact his family, his business, and whether the Senate would be the best platform for the causes he’d advocate — education, immigration, GOP solutions to health care and energy.

Bush did not respond to an e-mail seeking comment.

But Jeb Bush had already responded to Politico by email last night, saying: “I am considering it.” It is speculated that if J.B. does get into the race, the other Republican candidates- including Rep. Connie Mack- will back down. But the path might not be so smooth if current Governor Charlie Crist decided to enter the race. J.B. and Crist aren’t fond of each other- with Bush suggesting that Crist is “Democrat-lite”. Crist was a strong contender for John McCain’s v.p. pick back in those innocent days before we all knew (and feared) Sarah Palin. He wa such a favorite that Crist- a long time bachelor- managed a rather, um, conveniently timed engagement to a woman no one knew he had even met. And if you know anything about Crist, that “woman” part says quite a bit, too. 

“But, surely,” you say, “In an America when even the still delusional George W. Bush acknowledges that the Bush name might be somewhat tainted, another branch from the dull shrub wouldn’t make it into the Senate?” Unfortunately, Jeb Bush remains fairly popular in the state. And portions of the still fractured Republican party may back J.B. just to spite the “other” Republicans. 

In summary: Yes, we are already covering the 2010 elections.