Be Very Afraid... Conservatives float Jeb Bush as presidential candidate

By Kenneth T. Walsh

Posted 2/15/06

A surprising name is being floated in conservative circles for the presidency in 2008: Jeb Bush, the incumbent's younger brother and the two-term governor of Florida.

Most pundits thought Jeb had taken himself out of the running, but his Republican admirers think he might change his mind after he leaves office (he is term-limited in Florida) and realizes he has a great opportunity to win the White House in '08. Jeb's wife and daughter are believed to oppose any return to politics, but it's thought that their objections can be eased with a little time away from the limelight.

On the purely political side, conservatives say Jeb's record as Florida governor has been exemplary–even better in some ways than his brother's as Texas governor before Dubya won the White House in 2000.

"Jeb is the most successful Republican governor in the country," says a senior GOP strategist. "He cut taxes, reduced the number of government officials in Florida, got tort reform ... and Jeb is a proven vote-getter who has won Florida twice, the last time by a big margin. He'd be a powerful candidate if he could be convinced to run."

Of course there's always the problem of "Bush fatigue" – having another member of the Bush family seek the White House after George Herbert Walker Bush and George W. Bush held the office. But Jeb's fans say that problem would be minimized if Hillary Rodham Clinton wins the Democratic nomination as expected, potentially pitting one dynasty against another and taking the edge off the issue for Jeb.