He was a popular Governor of Florida – a key presidential state.
As Governor, he lowered taxes and significantly improved the state\’s education ratings
He is neither a right wing Republican nor a RINO (Republican In Name Only) – though people on both sides will try to make the case that he is.
His wife is a Mexican national whom he met while teaching English there. He and his family (three children) speak Spanish fluently – and Bush has publicly made his sympathies known towards at least partial amnesty/path to citizenship for illegals. This will be enormously significant for the burgeoning Latino vote.
He has been out of politics (i.e. in the real world) for 12 years and has a successful business record to show for it.
His name is Bush, and he is from a family that has produced A U.S. Senator, a congressperson, two Governors and two Presidents. Despite that remarkable list of elective successes, this may well be more of a liability than an asset – partly out of weariness with the Bush name (a problem the possible Democrat nominee, Hillary Clinton, may have as well) and partly because media have made both his father and brother out to be failed Presidents.
He will have difficulty winning Republican primaries – in no small part because of his stand on illegals. On the other hand, he is a proven vote-getter, which should help him in those primaries…and, if he is nominated, in the general election.
All things considered? Though far from a perfect fit for Republicans in 2016, Bush would be a formidable candidate against just about any Democrat.
If he actually runs, and if he can get through the primaries, Jeb Bush would give Democrats a lot to worry about.
