Jeb Bush is his own man.
By Chris Ryan
He is politically tougher and more eager to mix it up than his dad, and has the vast intellectual capability that his brother lacks. However, he possesses the ability to engage using humor, can back slap and carries the everyman appeal that led those two to the White House.
The problem for Jeb is that I’m making the comparison. The same comparison that every GOP primary voter will make over the coming months as they begin to dissect the vast field of candidates.
If Jeb Bush was Jeb Brown, he is strictly the most skilled politician in the field.
But, he’s not.
“If it’s all about whether the Bushes are going to break the Adams’ family (record) as to the most people from a family to be President, that’s a loser. I totally get that,” said Bush on WKXL’s New Hampshire Now show.
“We’re a tight family, but I’m different than them. I know what my challenge is, it’s a opportunity actually, to tell my life story and let people figure out what our differences are.”
From talking to Bush, it is clear that his drive to be President is based upon his interest in policy. In particular; revamping education in the 21st century, tax reform and income inequality.
That particular drive is somewhat rare in a Presidential candidate. There is usually a significant amount of chest beating and bravado.
The people who left Bush’s event this morning at The Draft weren’t ready to go take on the world. They were left thinking about substantive issues and a thoughtful intriguing person who thinks they have some of the answers.
There was no fiery rhetoric and very limited Obama/Hillary bashing.
This can be mistaken for a lack of ‘Fire in the belly.’
But, the game Bush is playing right now is very simple. Be open, and honest and put yourself to the test in New Hampshire.
Rinse and repeat.
Let the other candidates rise and fall and appear to be the adult in the room.
He appears to be on the right path.
