Trying to catch businessman Donald Trump in the polls, former Gov. Jeb Bush, R-Fla., is increasingly relying on U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, the longest serving Republican in the U.S. Senate, for help to rally the GOP faithful.
Holding a rally in the early caucus state of Nevada on Wednesday, Bush announced two members of the U.S. Senate were behind his campaign as Hatch and U.S. Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., endorsed the former Florida governor before his event in Reno.
“Our nation is at a crossroads,” Heller said. “It is in dire need of a proven leader. That leader is Jeb Bush. As the governor of Florida, Jeb built a strong record and proved to Americans his policies will help them advance toward a better tomorrow. The nation needs the pragmatic, conservative, principled leadership that only Jeb provides."
Heller insisted Bush would do well in Nevada. Besides holding an important caucus, the Silver State is expected to be a swing state in the November election.
“Jeb understands why Nevada is important when appealing to the majority of American voters,” Heller said. “Most importantly, Jeb believes in growing the party and uniting it as he runs for president. That’s exactly what America needs. Someone who has the vision, the experience, and the ability to bring our nation forward to experience the best days ahead of it. That person is Gov. Jeb Bush. I proudly endorse him to become the next president of the United States of America.”
Hatch, the Senate president pro tempore and, having represented Utah since first being elected back in 1976, the longest-tenured Republican in the chamber, praised Bush’s record in Tallahassee.
“Jeb is a proven leader,” Hatch said. “He has a real record of cutting taxes, fostering job creation, and reforming government. I know Jeb will return the United States to a position of leadership in the world.”
Hatch waged a brief bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 2000 but ended up endorsing Bush’s brother -- then-Gov. George W. Bush of Texas -- after placing sixth in the Iowa caucus.
On Sunday, Hatch doubled down on his support of Bush.
“This upcoming presidential election is crucial to the future of our country,” Hatch emailed supporters on Sunday morning. “Americans have two choices: more of the same failed Obama policies from Hillary Clinton and the Democrats, or conservative change and growth that helps everyone. There is only one candidate who can deliver the change America needs to become stronger, and that candidate is Jeb Bush.
“Jeb is a proven leader and his conservative record is the strongest in the entire field,” Hatch insisted. “In eight years as governor of Florida he cut taxes by $19 billion; balanced the budget every year he was in office; created 1.3 million new jobs; reduced the state workforce by 13,000.
“America needs to lead again,” Hatch concluded. “But in order to do that, we need to elect a candidate with the values, drive and desire to restore opportunity for all Americans. Jeb possesses all those qualities and more, and that’s why he will make a great president. I know Jeb will return the United States to a position of leadership in the world.”
First elected to the U.S. Senate in 1976 with the backing of Ronald Reagan, Hatch has drawn fire in recent years from conservatives at the national level and in his home state. But unlike former U.S. Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, who conservatives sent packing in 2010, Hatch easily held off conservative challengers at the state GOP convention and in the Republican primary back in 2012.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN. In the 2000 presidential primaries, Kevin served as New York state chairman of Hatch's campaign.
