If you measure political success in dollars, Jeb Bush is making it mighty tough for fellow Floridian Marco Rubio to realize his presidential aspirations.
Bush holds the key to the bank. Period. A former governor with a dynastic name trumps a former state speaker, even if he is a U.S. senator. At least in the money-raising game.
You only had to look around the room during Tuesday's fundraiser at the Duval Hotel.
As Attorney General Pam Bondi told Bush's 300-or-so A-list supporters, "This is still Bush country."
One lobbyist wearing a "Jeb!" tie told me he called the event a "money-do."
"A money-do?" I asked.
He flashed a wide grin: "Money do it all, baby!"
I asked him, "If Marco throws an event like this, will you support him, too?"
"Marco? Who dat?" he said.
If Tuesday's "do" at the Duval wasn't a fundraiser for Jeb the Presidential Candidate, then I'm a Democratic debutante.
Yes, it was billed as a spoon-feeder for Right to Rise, Bush's leadership PAC. But most of the luncheoneers at the $1,000-a-ticket meet-and-greet, a prelude to his foundation's education summit, were wearing "Jeb '16" stickers and relishing a Hillary vs. Jeb war in 2016.
Bush was clearly, comfortably among friends. He talked about the problem he had learning the ropes when he first came to Tallahassee -- as if he were sharing a secret with a best friend. He talked about the diet he's on (the Paleo -- he hates it, but it's working).
In between the criticism of Obama and broad, unspecific policy points, he was branding himself, it seemed, with a new and perhaps deliberately unBush-like vulnerability.
I've watched a lot of Bushes over the years. I watched his grandfather Prescott in Connecticut, whom my parents adored; his father George H.W.; the self-assured Jeb Bush who governed this state for eight years; and his brother George W.
Tuesday I might have seen a Bush I haven't seen before. For sure, there's a very long way to go before anyone can declare him a winner -- he's still one of more than half a dozen, Rubio included, casting around for the White House. But if Bush doesn't have the Republican lawyer-lobbyist class entirely in his pocket, he does at least have their money.
Reach Nancy Smith at nsmith@sunshinestatenews.com or at 228-282-2423. Twitter: NancyLBSmith
