Another Bush in the White House?

It’s nearly two years before the 2016 American Presidential election but the biggest shot so far has been volleyed across the bow. It comes from former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, younger brother of former US President George W. Bush.

 

In a Facebook announcement on Tuesday, Bush announced his intent “to actively explore the possibility of running for President of the United States.” That means he’ll start a fundraising organisation called a Political Action Committee or PAC which will raise serious money for his potential run to be the Republican Presidential nominee.

 

Why even make an announcement about the “possibility” of a run for the big prize? Longtime Bush adviser and Republican political strategist Rich Galen says it’s all about the long game which can cost a campaign hundreds of millions of dollars.

 

“So long as Jeb looks like he might get into the race it will be difficult for potential opponents to recruit big-time fundraisers (called ‘bundlers’),” Galen tells DC Dispatches. He adds that many people will want to be on Team Jeb, effectively denying other potential candidates the help they’ll need.

 

“He wants to keep the political talent frozen in place,” says Galen. “By making noises as if he is leaning toward running, a great number of very talented people will wait to see what he does.”

 

Galen also notes that supporters of former US Secretary of State and former First Lady Hillary Clinton are making very similar moves on the Democratic side for the same reasons. That will no doubt raise speculation that 2016 could see two American political families duking it out for the White House.