Gerald Seib: “In that six-month stretch, Mr. Bush has borne the brunt of his two biggest problems—the fact that his famous name has become as much burden as asset, and the antipathy of many conservatives toward his immigration and education positions—without the ability to fully counter them. Convincing voters he isn’t just another guy named Bush requires offering the kind of fully formed rationale for a candidacy that only a real campaign can provide; easing conservative concerns requires the kind of extended conversation in the party’s trenches that a primary debate requires.”

“It’s also possible, of course, that Mr. Bush simply can’t overcome those two obstacles—that the time isn’t right, or has passed him by. Yet it seems likely that he is a better marathon runner than a sprinter, somebody who benefits from more exposure rather than less, and who has the money to endure a race that figures to be stretched out simply because of the time needed to winnow an extraordinarily large field.”