Can Bush’s Money Overcome His Party?

Charlie Cook: “The race for next year’s Republican presidential nomination is going to be fascinating on so many levels, but none more than the challenges facing former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.”

“On the one hand, more money is likely to be raised on behalf of Bush this quarter than has been for any non-incumbent in history. Numbers from $80 to $100 million have been bandied about, which would be more than Mitt Romney’s campaign (excluding allied groups) raised the entire 2011 calendar year. Furthermore, he is likely to have an all-star team of talent to help his cause, and he comes across as highly polished, even more presidential than any of his nomination rivals, as one might expect from someone who has been governor of one of the nation’s largest states, and a swing state at that.”

“On the other hand, Bush will be seeking the nomination of a party that clearly wants someone very conservative, arguably more conservative than he is.”