Even as buzz continues to build that he will run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016, former Gov. Jeb Bush, R-Fla., is increasingly focused on trying to help the GOP grasp control of the U.S. Senate in November’s elections.
Under the umbrella of the Floridians for a Senate Majority PAC, on Tuesday Bush hosted a fundraiser in Tampa for some of the leading GOP Senate hopefuls: U.S. Rep. Tom Cotton, R-Ark; Iowa state Sen. Joni Ernst; U.S. Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Colo.; Alaska Attorney General Dan Sullivan; and Dr. Monica Wehby who is running for the Senate in Oregon. All of the Senate hopefuls except for Sullivan attended the Tuesday event.
The event featured some of the most prominent financial supporters of the GOP in Florida, including Al Hoffman who worked with the Republican National Committee (RNC) on financial matters, former Ambassador John Rood and Mel Sembler.
Bush has also been active in other Senate races. Back in May, he endorsed North Carolina state House Speaker Thom Tillis who is running against U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan, D-N.C. Earlier this week, the Wichita Eagle reported Bush will be heading out to Kansas next week to help U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kansas, who is facing a serious challenge from businessman Greg Orman, a former Democrat who is now running with no party affiliation. Bush will be hosting a fundraiser for Roberts.
His recent activities have garnered the notice of prominent pundits who insist Bush intends to try to follow in his father’s and brother’s footsteps with a presidential bid.
“As Jeb Bush plunges into a frenzy of fall travel for Senate candidates, his allies insist a presidential campaign is becoming more of a possibility than even they thought a few months ago,” noted Mike Allen from Politico on Tuesday. “He’s doing a lot of under-the-radar prep, including foreign policy tutoring and meetings with tech gurus. And several of his friends think he is leaning more yes than no. The more opaque his plans, the greater the clamor – a ‘Greta Garbo strategy’ that has amped up demand for the former Florida governor.”
Bush has been active in other states in recent days. Last week, he headed to Chicago to help businessman Bruce Rauner, the Republican candidate who is looking to topple Gov. Pat Quinn, D-Ill. On Tuesday, news emerged that Bush will head to South Carolina, which holds its primary after New Hampshire, to campaign with Republicans in the October to help Gov. Nikki Haley, R-SC.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
