Even while insisting he has made no decision about whether to seek the White House in 2016, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush has been dipping a cautious toe into New Hampshire political waters.
Bush, two top GOP New Hampshire operatives told
Real Clear Politics (RCP), had aides reach out to them, inquiring about their availability and interest to be on Bush's team when, and if, the much-expected announcement finally comes down.
Both operatives were told to "keep your powder dry," RCP said, indicating that Bush may enter the race soon, and wants to insure that a top political team will be on hand.
Bush told the
Wall Street Journal's annual CEO Council meeting that he would be making an announcement "in short order."
Bush is well positioned among Republicans to run. A
RCP poll roundup as of late November shows him ahead of his nearest competition for the Republican nomination, Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, by 3.1 percent, polling 14.3 as compared to Ryan's 11.2.
However, RCP's polling average shows Bush down 9.6 percent against his most likely Democratic opponent, former Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton, meaning the last lap of the race could be a tough one.
"I think the decision's been made," one of the Republican operatives told RCP, adding, "I've definitely perceived an uptick in the perception of him doing this."
Bush spokesperson Kristy Campbell told RCP, "Gov. Bush has not made a decision yet on whether he will run for president. He has not reached out to anyone in New Hampshire, including these anonymous, unnamed 'operatives.'"
If he runs, Bush likely would run as a moderate counterbalance to the GOP's more conservative wing, with his record of favoring the granting of legal status to illegal aliens and supporting the Common Core education initiative — both anathema to the GOP's right wing.
However, he told the Journal's CEO Council it may be necessary to "lose the primary to win the general, without violating your principals," and admitted, "It's not an easy task, to be honest with you,"
The New York Times reported.
"Because most of his primary votes would come from the center and left of the party, he doesn't need to win big among the conservatives most fired up about immigration and Common Core,"
Bloomberg View noted.
"The risk is that these stances will exhaust Republicans' tolerance for heterodoxy, and leave Bush with less room to adopt a new economic platform. A nominee who conservatives viewed as an ideological soul mate might have more leeway," Bloomberg View added.
One of the political operatives contacted told RCP, "Of the Bushes, he’s the guy I like the best.
"If I were betting money on it, I’d bet he’d be the nominee because you’ll have eight to ten conservatives beating each other up, and someone will take the middle, and it’ll be either him or Christie."
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