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Picked Off: Jeb grabs top spot in 2016 Power Index
Fox News ^ | February 2, 2015 | Chris Stirewalt

Posted on 02/02/2015 5:56:58 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet

It wasn’t a goal-line interception, but it was a game changer. Just one week in to our Fox News First Power Index and we already have a major overhaul after frontrunner Mitt Romney’s unexpected departure. (Though his conditional statement to supporters left enough doubt to still be “on the radar” until he makes a more Shermanesque statement.) Not only did the frontrunner self-deport, but several second- and third-tier competitors showed surprising strength to make substantial strides. We would expect to see the field unsettled a year out from the first nominating contest, but as you’ll see below, the tumult is likely far from over

[The Fox News First 2016 Power Index is a subjective ranking of the current strength of the 10 top 2016 GOP contenders. Democrats currently only have one credible candidate. If that changes, we’ll rank them too.]

1) JEB BUSH [+1] The end of Romney’s three-week flirtation is a good-news/bad-news scenario for former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. He’s the undisputed frontrunner now since there is no near rival for the support – financial and electoral – of the still dominant Republican establishment. But that comes with frontrunner-level scrutiny. Romney’s departure is far better for Bush than spending the next six months fighting a $200 million duel of the rich dudes that would have left the establishment pick poorer and more ill-suited to woo the base in the closing weeks. On the other hand, it would have been better for Bush if Romney had extended his waters testing just a bit longer. Romney’s arrival ruined Bush’s plan for a slow rollout after his soft launch before Christmas. But after kicking the race into high gear, Romney absorbed much of the scrutiny and pressure that will now fall to Bush....

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Campaign News; Issues; Parties; Polls
KEYWORDS: bush; donttreadonme; givemeliberty; gope; livefreeordie; polls; rinosonparade; sarahpalin; scottwalker; tanstaafl; tedcruz; tedcruz2016; time2partyagain; treeofliberty
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Twenty-one months before the election.

Unprecedented.

The GOP-establishment is TERRIFIED of Cruz.

They will do ANYTHING to stop him.

Including vote Democrat.

21 posted on 02/02/2015 6:27:22 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum (Government is the religion of the fascists.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Neither.

I have my own source.


22 posted on 02/02/2015 6:31:50 PM PST by CyberAnt ("The hope and changey stuff did not work, even a smidgen.")
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Jeb Bush will deliver the worst electoral defeat the Repubs have seen in a generation.


23 posted on 02/02/2015 6:34:33 PM PST by Attention Surplus Disorder (At no time was the Obama administration aware of what the Obama administration was doing)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Image and video hosting by TinyPic
24 posted on 02/02/2015 6:36:45 PM PST by MtnMan101
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Karl Rove just endorsed J-Bush by asking us to ignore JB’s youthful indiscretions.

Worked for Obama.....geez!!!


25 posted on 02/02/2015 6:44:46 PM PST by elcid1970 ("I: am a radicalized infidel.")
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

George III— been there, done that.


26 posted on 02/02/2015 7:08:02 PM PST by tumblindice (America's founding fathers: all armed conservatives.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

27 posted on 02/02/2015 7:11:11 PM PST by Travis McGee (www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com)
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To: Attention Surplus Disorder

We can hope anyway


28 posted on 02/02/2015 7:11:27 PM PST by Carry me back
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

here we go! look for them to start calling him “frontrunner jeb”


29 posted on 02/02/2015 7:13:51 PM PST by Mr. K (Palin/Cruz 2016 (for 16 years of conservative bliss))
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To: Carry me back

It isn’t hope, for me. It’s a certainty.

If we accept the story that a difference-making bloc of the GOP base stayed home 0bama-Romney 2012, this occurred against a background of “fairly hopeful” re: Romney and “fairly disillusioned” re: 0bama. Hillary may or may not run, I don’t know, but if she does, the Dems will create as they do so well an air of excitement about her. It will be her time. *Nobody* will think “it’s Jeb’s time”, and the same conservatives, perhaps even more, will stay away from the polls. Not only will they be completely unattracted to Jeb, they will reject the idea that we get the third Bush. And the third Bush will turn off plenty of independents.

Once again, I believe the GOP will select a completely unappealing candidate. And I think he’ll get creamed. That he would be creamed by such a miserable candidate as Hillary would be the embarrassment of a generation, but IMO that’s exactly what would happen. With the proviso that I suck at predictions.


30 posted on 02/02/2015 7:31:51 PM PST by Attention Surplus Disorder (At no time was the Obama administration aware of what the Obama administration was doing)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

The Booshies have done enough liberal damage. Time to put them out to pasture.


31 posted on 02/02/2015 8:15:53 PM PST by VRWC For Truth (Roberts has perverted the Constitution)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Political bookies are destroying the country.


32 posted on 02/02/2015 8:19:56 PM PST by EternalVigilance (Political bookies are destroying the country.)
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To: Kale; Jarhead9297; COUNTrecount; notaliberal; DoughtyOne; RitaOK; MountainDad; aposiopetic; ...
Ted Cruz Ping! If you want on/off this ping list, please let me know. Please beware, this is a high-volume ping list!


33 posted on 02/02/2015 8:27:48 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet (The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me.)
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To: ronnie raygun

Carly Fiorina was on M. Kelly tonight.....sorta makes Warren and Clinton look like Bag Ladies. I might even enjoy this election if that smart plus classy dame runs.


34 posted on 02/02/2015 8:53:55 PM PST by yoe
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Fine. Run this stupid liberal sonofab|tch and watch the Dem get elected in a landslide.


35 posted on 02/02/2015 9:02:23 PM PST by Reverend Saltine (Saltines are dry and make you thirsty. And then you want more and you get thirsty-er....)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

They’re pushin’ hard for Jebbie.

No more Bushes! I LUV W, but this brother is NOT GW!


36 posted on 02/02/2015 9:23:21 PM PST by luvie (All my heroes wear camos! Thank you David, Michael, Chris, Txradioguy, JJ, CMS, & ALL Vets, too!)
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To: SeaHawkFan

Ted Cruz has no business running for president. Let’s see how well he does at running something first, something he has never done.


37 posted on 02/02/2015 9:31:43 PM PST by Octar
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To: Octar

Are you one of those who insist on electing busybody governors? They are proven government lovers.


38 posted on 02/03/2015 7:11:58 AM PST by Lisbon1940
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To: yoe

Fiorina is a RINO, but she’d make a good campaigner/supporter and potential cabinet member. And, as you said, what a great contrast to Hildebeast and Fauxcahontas she would make.


39 posted on 02/03/2015 7:12:07 AM PST by Jane Long ("And when thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek")
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

What has jeb really done and accomplished, where does he stand on Conservative issues such as amnesty and illegal immigration? Oh, we know the answer to that. Where does he stand on obamacare? do we really know? We do know where Senator Cruz stands, with Conservatives and for America.
“Ted Cruz Unveils Obamacare Repeal Act” will jeb support the Senators 2 1/4 page bill that will go along way towards fixing America?


40 posted on 02/03/2015 7:32:32 AM PST by duffee (Dump the Chairman of the Mississippi Republican Party, joe nosef.)
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