While the GOP faces an
identity crisis with their failed re-branding efforts and a continuous civil
war between the “moderates” and the right-wing fringe Tea Party, all eyes are
shifting to Jeb Bush, former governor of Florida.
Republican strategist Karl Rove refers to Bush as the “deepest thinker on our
side.” Yes, another Bush. He is is the deepest thinker on their side. The
brother of the biggest failure, who holds the same policies, is right for our
country. He is seemingly a breath of fresh air for the Looney Tune clan – I’m
sorry, Republican Party.
Whereas Karl Rove calls
him the deepest thinker, some would disagree. GOP strategist Greg Mueller isn’t so sure either,
saying:
“I don’t know that he will ever win over the limited-government conservatives, There is skepticism that maybe Jeb Bush wants too much government in people’s lives.”
This also comes around the time Gov.
Terry Branstad of Iowa has hailed the former Governor’s work on education,
calling him a “formidable” candidate if he runs in 2016.
And the GOP base has a
favorable view of Bush, with a recent Public Policy Polling poll finding
him trailing 2008 Iowa precinct caucus winner Mike Huckabee (20 percent) and
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz (15 percent) with support from 12 percent of the 303
Republican primary voters polled May 15-19.
Third place? Not too bad for
someone with the last name Bush. Bush was
seen favorable by 48 percent of those polled; unfavorably by 25 percent.
Also noteworthy is a
mid-April Loras College Poll of 600 GOP likely primary voters which found Bush
trailing Huckabee 15 percent to 11 percent, but ahead of Kentucky Sen. Rand
Paul, Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan and Christie who polled 8.5, 8.3 and 8 percent,
respectively.