Posted on 10/28/2015 2:51:13 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
If Jeb Bush strikes out in tonight’s GOP debate, look for one of these two senators to emerge in the spotlight.
T onight, Jeb Bush sinks or swims.
For the past month, since the last Republican presidential debate, the erstwhile front-runner has struggled to capture ground and stake a position. On his flank are Donald Trump and Ben Carson, who draw crowds and dollars with an anti-establishment—and often anti-Bush—message. Close behind is Sen. Marco Rubio, who offers the same message as Bush with a fresh face and the promise of a more diverse, cosmopolitan party. And in front, blocking movement, are Bush’s own two feet. Faced with the fraught legacy of his brother George W. Bush, Jeb has floundered, defending an unpopular presidency against tough attacks on both sides of the aisle.
All of this has pulled Bush from a second-place spot in the Republican presidential race with double-digit support to somewhere in the vast middle of the pack. And while Bush has cash on hand—overwhelmingly from elite spenders—his donors are impatient with his performance. If the former Florida governor can’t deliver, it might be time for a different candidate to claim the establishment mantle.
This isn’t as straightforward as it looks. Rubio looks like the natural choice: He’s a young, gifted communicator with a strong biography and orthodox Republican views. But Rubio the candidate hasn’t caught up with Rubio the idea. His fundraising lags behind that of his rivals; in the last quarter, he raised $5.7 million, compared to $20.8 million for Ben Carson, $13.4 million for Bush, and $12.2 million for Cruz. And like Bush, most of this cash comes from the wealthiest contributors—just 22 percent of Rubio’s support came from small donors.....
(Excerpt) Read more at slate.com ...
They didn’t die when they didn’t do in the last debate. Why should this one be different?
Trying to build audience, world series competition.
Rubio may have shot himself in the foot with his comment about hating his Senate job.
Of course, the missing work part is typical of every senator who has or is running for president.
McCain and Obama in 2008 both missed many sessions, as did Clinton and Biden.
Since Rubio is so unhappy as a Senator, he could just as likely become bored with being president, assuming he is nominated and does win.
Who has the most Feet in the Street?
Activist counts matter.
Small donor counts are a surrogate measure.
Guess who?
Ground game, baby. Just watch.
The debate ~vs~ The World Series?
Right..........
I think that tonight is the night that Jeb gets a political stake in the heart. Its not just that he’s a lackluster candidate, or that he seems to feel entitled, or that he’s relying on the “good” performance of his brother’s Presidency (”good” only vs. the utter disaster that has followed - and it has followed partly because it wasn’t really so “good”).
No, the final strike of the mallet will be that Trump is going to mercilessly make fun of Bush going home to Mommy & Daddy last week. There’s simply no way to bring home to the voters the idea that Bush is running, and expecting to win, solely because of his family name.
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