Bush on the Ballot in 2010?

by Jonathan Singer, Wed Dec 03, 2008 at 10:40:05 AM EST

You have to leave it to Republicans. The Bush era has been a massive disaster for their party. And yet it looks like they might just have another Bush as their most prominent candidate in 2010. Marc Ambinder first broke the story:

Two sources close to Jeb Bush, including one who has spoken to the former Florida governor within the past few hours, say he is seriously considering a run for Senate now that incumbent Republican Mel Martinez has retired.

The folks at The Politico confirm it:

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush -- the younger brother of the president -- is weighing a run for the Senate seat currently held by Republican Mel Martinez.
Martinez announced Tuesday that he will not seek reelection in 2010. Asked whether he was interested in running for the seat then, Bush told Politico by e-mail Tuesday night: "I am considering it."

In the past two election cycles, in which George W. Bush loomed large, the Republicans have lost significant number of House seats (closing on 60), Senate seats (at least 13) and Governorships (seven), moving from what appeared to be a national party into a regional one. Yet now they might have a Bush as their most prominent candidate and what could be the most watched election contest in 2010? Republicans may even be able to win the Florida Senate race with Jeb Bush as their nominee, but at what cost? If they're willing to believe that having Bush as their standard bearer in 2010 would be a net positive, I've got a bridge to sell them...

Tags: 2010, Bush Clan, FL-Sen, Jeb Bush, Senate 2010 (all tags)

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Re: Bush on the Ballot in 2010?

Timingwise, it would work well for him, if he assumes Obama would win reelection.

The Repubs nominate a wingnut in 2012, get creamed, and Jeb's Senate term will expire when he assumes he'll win the White House.

by Bush Bites 2008-12-03 10:44AM | 0 recs

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Re: Bush on the Ballot in 2010?

Another thought.

Since Jeb is allegedly the responsible one, he may feel it's his duty to restore the family name after the Chimp's disaster.

by Bush Bites 2008-12-03 10:49AM | 0 recs

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Re: Bush on the Ballot in 2010?

Good luck with that.

by KTinOhio 2008-12-03 11:03AM | 0 recs

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Re: Bush on the Ballot in 2010?

No doubt but I don't think it is going to be possible for Jeb to do it since his brother will go down as one of the worst President's in history.

by jmnyc 2008-12-03 11:07AM | 0 recs

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Schiavo case

Could be an issue to use against him. Otherwise, Jeb takes this seat off the table for Democrats.

Alex Sink would be better off running for re-election, and then running for governor in 2014.

by esconded 2008-12-03 11:04AM | 0 recs

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Re: Bush on the Ballot in 2010?

If Jeb runs, then the Dems would have to run Wasserman Shultz, she would be the only one to appeal to the same upscale independent voters that Jeb Bush would appeal to like in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area. The other Dems just don't cut it. If it is Heather and Jeb running it would tilt republican/toss up. The Dems can make it a race.

by olawakandi 2008-12-03 11:12AM | 0 recs

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She would not stand a chance against Jeb?

He is impossible to beat in Florida!

by Joshuagen 2008-12-03 11:22AM | 0 recs

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Re: She would not stand a chance against Jeb?

I'd hate to lose DWS in Congress for the sake of a long-shot Senate run.

by Bush Bites 2008-12-03 05:15PM | 0 recs

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Re: Bush on the Ballot in 2010?

So stealing the election for the worst President in history isn't going to be an issue?

You gotta give it to Florida. An entire state of people with their heads in the sand.

by wengler 2008-12-03 11:25AM | 0 recs

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Re: Bush on the Ballot in 2010?

Hey!!??
My Dad lives there and he is...

wait... did you say head in the sand?

Dammit. You are right.

by JDF 2008-12-03 11:49AM | 0 recs

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Re: Bush on the Ballot in 2010?

My parents live there too.

Every four years I have to walk them through the Bush misadventures to convince them to vote Democratic.

I think the long-term memory problems of the elderly work to the Repubs' advantage in Florida.

by Bush Bites 2008-12-03 05:18PM | 0 recs

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this race will energize Democrats

like none other. I can see this being the most expensive race of the next cycle, as the Bu$h family is still filthy rich. Poppy will likely still be alive, W. will be working for oil companies, this race is gonna be tough.

by Lakrosse 2008-12-03 12:27PM | 0 recs

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Re: Bush on the Ballot in 2010?

Well cross Florida off the list. Jeb Bush is very popular in Florida, he will win the seat if he runs.

by RJEvans 2008-12-03 11:52AM | 0 recs

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Re: Bush on the Ballot in 2010?

Sink is popular too. It could be a very interesting matchup.

by yitbos96bb 2008-12-03 03:52PM | 0 recs

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If Jeb does run

I expect many of the possible top-tier Democrats to turn down the race.

by Kent 2008-12-03 11:54AM | 0 recs

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Re: Bush on the Ballot in 2010?

The younger George Bush dragging down the Republicans in two election cycles? Do not forget the elder George Bush losing his re-election by the biggest margin in American history (62%).

by demjim 2008-12-03 12:04PM | 0 recs

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Re: Bush on the Ballot in 2010?

OK, I'll bite. What are you talking about? The elder Bush lost his re-election bid to Clinton in 1992 by 5.5% (43% to 37.5%). Carter lost his re-election bid to Reagan by 9.75% (50.75% to 41%).

by Mose 2008-12-04 04:59AM | 0 recs

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Re: Bush on the Ballot in 2010?

My parents are Repulicans in SW Fla (there's a lot of them there too) and they loved Jeb Bush as governor.
And there are still a lot of ( worst pres in history) Bush supporters down there, too.

by skohayes 2008-12-03 12:23PM | 0 recs

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wow, that Bush family never

seems to give up the dream of Jeb being President. Even after W.'s disaster, they're still trying. This is bad news for us, as the Bush machine still rages on, and he's apparently liked in FL. Obama needs to be popular in 2010 so that the name Bush can be used to hammer him. Unfortunately, history isn't on our side, as Presidents are nearly always unpopular in their second year, Nixon, Carter, Reagan even, as he didn't look like he would win re-election after 1982's election, Bill Clinton wasn't pop in 1994 obvi, tho W. was the exception, and only cuz of 9/11. But since it may be hard to go lower than the rock bottom at which we currently are, Obama may be able to pull off in 2010 what Bush Jr. did in 2002.

by Lakrosse 2008-12-03 12:26PM | 0 recs

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Re: Bush on the Ballot in 2010?

Please...your family has done enough! If you feel the call to service, do it in the private sector. It is time to retire the Bush family for good.

by gorebeatbush2 2008-12-03 12:53PM | 0 recs

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Re: Bush on the Ballot in 2010?

The best hope for Democrats is for Obama to open or normalize relations with Cuba and contrast that to the punks Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, papi Bush, Clinton, and baby Bush who were so very afraid of Cuba. The United States could have subverted Castro long ago by making Cuba just another consumer market. Maybe Cubans are dying to buy gas/ethanol guzzling SUVs and full size pickups from GM, Ford, and Chrysler. While Obama is meddling in the Carribean, he should assist Puerto Rico in becoming either one of the United States or an independent country.

It would also help if baby Bush is prosecuted in Congress for contempt, US courts for criminal activity, or International Criminal Court for war crimes. I don't think Obama, Biden, Holder, Reid and Pelosi have the cojones to go after dubyah and Cheney.

Also, Billary might resign or be pushed out by 2010 thus closing out the Clinton and Bush regimes with their family values of arrogance, stupidity and dishonesty.

by bdungan 2008-12-03 02:55PM | 0 recs

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Re: Bush on the Ballot in 2010?

Wow...

I actually feel stupider for having read this comment.

by yitbos96bb 2008-12-03 03:47PM | 0 recs

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Re: Bush on the Ballot in 2010?

Sniff.... Sniff....

Smells like someone is preparing for a 2016 or 2020 WH run.

by yitbos96bb 2008-12-03 03:44PM | 0 recs

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I doubt it

The Senate is usually the place where Presidential aspirations go to die. Too much process, too much bloviation, too many compromises, too many votes on complex bills that can be mis-characterized by opponents.

Besides, Jeb Bush doesn't need to win a senate seat to set up a Presidential run, if that's what he wants to do. The resume is already solid, and he certainly doesn't need additional name recognition.

My guess is that if Jeb Bush runs for the senate, then its because he wants to be a senator.

by Mose 2008-12-04 05:07AM | 0 recs

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Re: Bush on the Ballot in 2010?

Re the comment above: I was referring to the combined totals of Clinton and Perot.

by demjim 2008-12-04 05:04AM | 0 recs

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Interesting

Although that's kind of a strange way to view the election. By that logic, wasn't Clinton narrowly defeated in his re-election bid in 1996 by the combined Dole/Perot/Nader/Brown vote?

by Mose 2008-12-04 05:11AM | 0 recs