Let's Talk About a Potential Bush in 2016

AP
Connor Simpson 3,621 Views Nov 23, 2012

Oh, boy, are you guys ready for more 2016 speculation? We hope so! The latest obvious rumor says Jeb Bush is quietly debating throwing his name in for the Republican nomination. 

The New York Times' Jim Rutenberg and Jeff Zeleny report the other Bush might be seriously mulling a Presidential run in 2016: 

Mr. Bush is said by friends to be weighing financial and family considerations — between so many years in office and the recession his wealth took a dip, they said, and he has been working hard to restore it — as well as the complicated place within the Republican Party of the Bush brand. Asked this week about whether his father would run, Jeb Bush Jr. told CNN, “I certainly hope so.”

The tent pole of Bush's case for a 2016 bid is he's an immigration heavyweight. His wife is Mexican; he's fluent in Spanish; he supports immigration reform that would let people who've been living here illegally but who are otherwise law-abiding stay here. He's essentially the anti-Mitt Romney on immigration, which should help steal some of the Democrats' 70 percent of the Latino vote from a few weeks ago. 

And he wouldn't have to worry about one potential GOP challenger: Marco Rubio. Rubio is his protegé and would bow out of the race if asked. All Bush has to say is, "scram," and Rubio will say, "how high?"

Let's look at Bush's history in the last election, too. He was publicly pleaded to join the primary but never answered the bell. But then, even after endorsing Romney, Jeb came out and said, in so many words, I could have done a better job than Mitt Romney. And this was before election day! He told CBS' This Morning that 2012, "was probably my time," and that he hadn't yet ruled out a run in 2016, all while flatly refusing to be Mitt's Vice President pick. (Remember the days when no one in the GOP would accept that job? Craziness.) Anyway, Jeb-Rubio 2016. Book it. 

Want to add to this story? Let us know in comments or send an email to the author at connorbsimpson at gmail dot com. You can share ideas for stories on the Open Wire.

Related Articles   More by Connor Simpson

George W. Bush Whiles Away the Time Painting Pictures of Dogs

The Jeb Bush 2016 Hyperbole Begins

(Very) Early Signs from Your 2016 GOP Frontrunners That They'll Save the GOP

 

Oxbow Upsets Orb's Bid for a Triple Crown at the Preakness

Sore Losers Can't Accept That France Legalized Gay Marriage

Elsewhere on the Web

User Comments

Please type your comment and click Post. If you’re not already logged in you will be prompted to log in or register

  • The Atlantic Wire on Twitter
  • The Atlantic Wire RSS Feed
  • The Atlantic Wire iPhone App