Stopping just short of announcing that he is running for president, Jeb Bush has said he will âactively exploreâ the possibility on Facebook.
Former Florida Governor Bush, the son and brother of previous presidents, is making a bold move by announcing his intentions this early in the race. The move will put pressure on other candidates to, either, announce they are running, as well, or let Bush use his contacts to gain an early advantage in staffing, donors and national attention.
âIn January, I also plan to establish a Leadership PAC that will help me facilitate conversations with citizens across America to discuss the most critical challenges facing our exceptional nation. The PACâs purpose will be to support leaders, ideas and policies that will expand opportunity and prosperity for all Americans.â Gov. Bush wrote on Facebook.
The announcement puts pressure on New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and 2012 Republican nominee Mitt Romney to either announce their intentions of running or lose early ground and potential donors to the former Florida governor.
âI think Jeb is trying to clear the field,â said Bobbie Kilberg, a former staffer for President George H.W. Bush, to the Wall Street Journal. âHeâs now gotten out ahead of everyone else, and I think this may force other candidates to move earlier than they had wanted to.â
In Florida, Bush governed as a fiscal and social conservative, but was known for breaking with the Republican Partyâs conservative base over both immigration and education. He has recommended sweeping changes to the national policy toward illegal immigrants and his support of national Common Core education standards have put him at odds with other leading conservatives.
The announcement has intensified the debate about âdynastic politicsâ in the United States. If Gov. Bush wins the nomination, his likely opponent will be former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Clinton is the wife of former president Bill Clinton.
As David Axelrod, former strategist for President Obama, â[the Bushes and Clintons] are like enduring franchises in American politics. There are also burdens that come from these franchises. Youâre not a brand-new car. Even if someone else put the dings in it, youâre still driving it.â