A New Chapter in American Politics

Rick Klein: “The unprecedented and eye-popping $103 million brought in by Jeb Bush’s super PAC over the first half of the year brings a modicum of clarity to the GOP field, along with some new rules of presidential politics. For starters, Bush has to be considered the frontrunner at this point, simply based on the math. It’s highly unlikely that any of his rivals will be anywhere close to having the $114 million at his direct or indirect disposal at this stage. (And keep in mind he’s been a formal candidate for less than a month.)”

“Secondly, and perhaps more significantly, the strings to the biggest purse will be controlled thousands of miles from Bush’s Miami headquarters. This amount of money, at the control of Mike Murphy in Los Angeles, will mean heretofore basic campaign functions – advertising, most prominently, but not exclusively – will be handled by an outside entity. This is a major change in how campaigns are conducted – and Jeb won’t be the last to have his operation shift in this fashion.”