Posted on 02/16/2007 10:03:13 AM PST by DeerfieldObserver
Jeb Bush, who hasn't publicly picked a favorite in the Republican presidential race, privately is talking up the candidacy of Mitt Romney and steering some of his closest advisers to the campaign.
The former Florida governor has said repeatedly he won't be a candidate in 2008 despite encouragement from his father, the former president, and his brother, the current one. But Jeb Bush's support, even tacit, would be critical in the state that decided the 2000 presidential election.
"Governor Bush said, 'Before you commit, I want you to meet Mitt Romney. He is the kind of guy you will like no matter what,'" said former Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings. "The governor was very candid about the fact that he really liked this guy."
Jennings, the woman Bush chose as his lieutenant governor, is one of several former Bush confidantes in the Romney camp. Others include his hand-picked, former state party chairman Al Cardenas, and Sally Bradshaw, Bush's former campaign manager and chief of staff.
Now on Romney's payroll, these former Bush stalwarts are working to help the candidate overcome his lack of name identification in Florida. A recent statewide Quinnipiac poll of Republicans showed Romney in single digits compared to Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record), Rudy Giuliani and Newt Gingrich, who has not announced his candidacy.
Romney was in Florida on Friday for private meetings in Jacksonville and a town hall meeting in central Florida at The Villages, a retirement community that's a must-stop for politicians.
Last fall, Romney campaigned with Bush to help Florida candidates. As head of the Republican Governors Association, he also brought a $1 million check to the state Republican Party. While the GOP suffered major gubernatorial losses elsewhere, Florida was a bright spot as Republican Charlie Crist was elected.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
The democrats are licking their jowls over the hope that Rudy, Romney or McCain will be the MSM and RNC choice for the republican nominee.
Most assuredly. Jeb might as well grab any of those three and say "Here, vote for this RINO." If he really wanted to help out the cause, he could endorse someone like Hunter or Newt.
I won't be voting for any of those ones you mentioned.
The thing that scares me about Romney is the MSM will have the chance to use the "flip-flop" line against him, and call Repubs hypocrites for using it against Kerry in 2004.
Guliani: too liberal socially and too many skeletons
McCain: too old and too unpredictable
Romney: "Clinton-esque" in his poll watching?
Newt: too many personal skeletons, too much hated, and too loose lipped
Where do we turn???
...not sure about that....I think the Dems would hate to run against a Rudy type.....why?...cause he would pull alot of democrat, moderate and independent votes....sure he would lose conservative ones...but I think they would shudder at the thought.....
Mitt Romney should be honest and just admit that he had to pretend to be pro-Choice in order to run for office in liberal Massachusetts.
I think he really is pro-Life in his true feelings.
.well if he plays it right Rommney could over come that... it is not the Kerry flip flopping that happened within months or weeks....even Reagan was pro choice many moons ago.....Don't know him all that well....but with 500 million net worth....he has got the most cash
DUNCAN HUNTER!
Click on my tag line for his webpage.
Hmm, or just copy + paste the link!
I think Romney flipped. It would be a flip flop if he went back to his original position. If he would make illegal amnesty an isue he would probably move up in the polls really quickly. I hope I am not disappointed and he really is against illegal amnesty.
Good news!
Can some one objectively tell me about Rommney?
I don't care that he's a Mormon. I am concerned by the fact he was elected in Mass. I know he's newly pro life. But what's the 411 on him? National Review liked him.
Of course they will. And in this case, they'd be right.
Funny how he saw the conservative light on so many issues right around the time that he decided to run for President....
If he was picked by ANY Bush--I DO NOT want him on the ballot.
That means we will have:
No Immigration enforcement
More Pandering to Islamofascists
More prosecution of defenders ( Military and Border Patrol)
Romney is Pro Life when he really needs the votes. Right now he does so he needs to do some flip flopping like others from Mass.
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