GOP Guru Cheers White House Bid for Jeb Bush in 2016

Veteran Republican strategist Mark McKinnon peered into a crystal ball and sees former Gov. Jeb Bush on the horizon for the GOP in 2016 in a piece on The Daily Beast.

2012 may not be the bonanza Republicans anticipate, noted McKinnon. At this point the GOP field has no clear leader. If the economy shows any signs of life in the next year and a half, and President Obamas favorable ratings bounce and hold over 50, it may not matter. With all the advantages of incumbency, its likely Obama will be re-elected. So, on to 2016, when the presidential contest will be wide open. And this time there will be a clear favorite: Jeb Bush. (The howling starts here.)

Despite the obvious legacy issues -- his last name is a four-letter word to some -- the Bush brother who actually grew up wanting to be president is a true policy wonk with proven executive, crisis management and leadership abilities, and the former Florida governors favorability is still high, continued McKinnon. Hes a serious conservative, with a seriously positive case for what he wants to do for America. Hes not just a Party of No guy, says best-selling author John Heilemann. And Jeb cracked the door open the other day. While insisting he isnt looking to run for president in 2012, the second Bush son said he would never say never when asked about 2016.

The first governor ever re-elected in Floridas history, Jeb focused intensely on reform of education, the budget process, civil service and health care, added McKinnon, clearly not knowing that Reubin Askew, Bob Graham and Lawton Chiles (who actually beat Bush in 1994) all won second terms. These are issues that need to be addressed on the national level. He appeals to the establishment and the tea party movement. He was an early backer of Marco Rubio, interestingly against the GOP establishment. And almost universally favored among Republicans in the all-important electoral state of Florida, he also has crossover appeal among Democrats and independents.

Jeb, really John Ellis Bush, is an innovative thinker and genial reformer, insisted McKinnon. And he opens the GOP Big Tent wide. As an exchange student teaching in Mexico, where he met his future wife, Bush gained fluency in Spanish. His support among Hispanics is strong; he won the majority of the Florida Latino vote in 1998 and 2002. He has publicly disagreed with Arizonas contested immigration law, and he now serves as co-chair of the new Hispanic Leadership Network, a Republican effort to attract Hispanic voter support. While 41 was gentle, 43 tough, Jeb --or 45, as he someday may be called --is smart. The question here: Will America see the man, or reject dynasty? And if not, theres always 47 -- George P. Bush.