While the closed-door summit for 150 of Jeb Bush's richest donors was meant to be a pep rally and celebration for loyalists to celebrate the Bush legacy,
Politico reports that the gathering was more of a rescue operation for a candidate who looks unable to meet the expectations of the family brand.
Despite raising large sums of money in his first months as a candidate, loyalists said that the former Florida governor is "now on life support."
"The patient is either in intensive care and in need of some good doctors who can save him or being put into hospice and we’re going to see a slow death," said one K Street lobbyist supporting Bush, Politico reports.
At the Hilton Americas Houston hotel, former president George H. W. Bush and Barbara Bush played host to Jeb's "Commodores." Barbara Bush handed out Jeb! bumper stickers as Jeb welcomed donors for making the trip to Houston and professed his determination to win.
“He seemed like he’s in a really good place, like a burden had been lifted,” said a bundler from Miami.
However, behind closed doors, Politico reports that others are concerned about the direction of Jeb's campaign.
“Having 41 around helps take the edge off, but we all read the same newspapers and look at the same polls and it’s tough right now. There are a lot of people we thought would have written checks who aren’t on board yet,” one donor said.
At the event on Sunday, Jeb gave a sneak peek to his next round of "feel good" video ads and while one donor said "it’s reassuring being here and looking around seeing that there’s still a lot of support for Jeb," other attendees are looking for less motivation and more tangible evidence in a product they're investing in.
“At this point, it’s not about motivation. All the people I know have already given,” said one Washington, D.C.-based donor who spoke privately, according to Politico. “The people who are left are momentum people and they need to see that this is a train that’s going somewhere.”
The historic opportunity to witness two former presidents and possibly the next president in one room rounded $100,000 in contributions. And, Politico reports that George W. Bush will take questions from attendees Monday morning to inspire additional support for his brother.
As Jeb's campaign has its obvious troubles, Fred Zeidman, a long-time Bush supporter based in Houston said "it's a question that'll answer itself."
Zeidman added, "either the numbers keep going down and you’ve got to figure out what you’re going to do; or the numbers will eventually improve, which is what we’re all counting on."
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