Sunday, March 27, 2005

Candidate Profile Fifteen: Jeb Bush

Dave Guipe links to a Democracy Corps poll showing Hillary Clinton beating Jeb Bush by 50-47 in a hypothetical matchup, then remarks on two things: (1) Hillary getting 50%, and (2) the fact that Jeb has likely run his last race. Has he? Let's take a look...

John Ellis Bush - official biography

If there's a Jeb 2008 site, I missed it...

Resume: two-term governor of Florida; former real estate executive; former Florida Secretary of Commerce; started the first charter school in Florida

Many pundits have rightly noted that despite our fascination with the 'glamorous' Kennedy clan, their accomplishments have been rather weak compared with that other American dynasty, the Bushes. Jeb is the fourth Bush to hold high elective office, and he seems an amiable, normal sort of guy, but I'm not sure he has the charisma to make a run at the highest office of all.

Jeb has ruled out a 2008 run (I think we all know how much faith to put in that sort of proclamation), but insider buzz has prominent Republicans urging him to consider a run for the Senate; some also see him as an attractive vice presidential candidate (and I think they may be on to something there).

As a VP pick, Jeb would bring some great conservative bonafides, such as his involvement with charter schools, his executive level experience in both the private and public sectors, his connections, and his base in Florida, one of the bigger electoral prizes. A presidential run, however, would require him to overcome the huge obstacle of attempting to be the third president out of the last four out of the same family. Can you imagine the moaning about the new monarchy, nepotism, blah, blah, blah...? It's enough to make you weary before it ever begins.

Still, to paraphrase the current occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, you should never misunderestimate a Bush. I don't think a run from Jeb in 2008 is completely out of the question; I don't think it's very likely, either.

CURRENT ODDS: 22-1

UPDATE 07/24/2005 10:56 p.m.:

CURRENT ODDS: 25-1:
see here...

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