Jeb Bush Sunday quit the Republican presidential race following a series of dismal performances in the primaries, as the Mr Bush family’s dream of an unprecedented third stint at the White House was s
Jeb Bush Sunday quit the Republican presidential race following a series of dismal performances in the primaries, as the Mr Bush family’s dream of an unprecedented third stint at the White House was shattered after he came a distant fourth in South Carolina.
An introvert but articulate Jeb, with no dearth of money and support base of establishment across the nation, was hoping to follow the footsteps of his father George H.W. Bush and his elder brother George W. Bush. George H.W. Bush, now 91, was the 41st President of the United States from 1989 to 1993. His son George W. Bush was elected as the two-term 43rd President of the US from 2001 to 2009. Sixty-three-year-old John Ellis “Jeb” Bush was hoping to become the 45th President of the US when he announced his candidature last year. After three consecutive abysmal performances in Iowa, New Hampshire and finally in South Carolina, the third presidential aspirant from the Bush family announced to suspend his campaign.
“The people of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina have spoken. I respect their decision. So, tonight, I am suspending my campaign,” a visibly disappointed Jeb said as he took the podium in Colombia, South Carolina, after it became clear that he has received less than eight per cent of the votes. “I congratulate my competitors, that are remaining on the island, on their success in a race that has been hard-fought, just as the contest for the presidency should be because it is a tough job,” Jeb said.
At his primary night party at a hotel ballroom in Colombia, an emotional Jeb acknowledged that there was nothing more he could do. In the Iowa caucuses on February 1, which kicked off the 2016 presidential cycle for the November polls, Jeb was placed sixth with an abysmally low 2.8 per cent votes.
Meanwhile, within minutes of Jeb Bush dropping out of the presidential race Saturday night, some of his donors were preparing to throw their financial support behind Marco Rubio, who has emerged as the strongest candidate among the establishment wing of the party.
“Jeb’s network is already naturally migrating to Marco,” said Gaylord Hughey, a top Mr Bush fundraiser from Texas, echoing what four other top donors said. “It’s the clear path.” “It’s a stampede,” added another donor, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Three other Mr Bush donors, who declined to be named, also said they now planned to support Mr Rubio. The likelihood that some of Mr Bush’s deep-pocketed donors will back Mr Rubio comes at an opportune time for his candidac.
