By Reid J. Epstein
Jeb Bush will "actively explore the possibility of running for
president" in 2016, according to an announcement the former Florida
governor posted to his Facebook page Tuesday morning.
Mr. Bush, whose father and brother served as president, is the
first Republican to formally explore a 2016 candidacy. More than a
dozen others are publicly weighing whether to seek the White
House.
Mr. Bush wrote that he discussed running with his family over
the Thanksgiving holiday and will launch a political-action
committee in January to promote his political ideals. The
announcement doesn't say that he has formed an exploratory
committee to raise money to back a presidential campaign.
A two-term governor, Mr. Bush is considered a social and fiscal
conservative, though he has broken with party orthodoxy on
immigration and education policy--two issues that figure to be
central to the GOP's 2016 primary campaign.
Mr. Bush has been a strong backer of Common Core education
standards and an immigration overhaul, which put him at odds with
many Republican lawmakers and voters.
Mr. Bush has also had a low-grade feud with antitax activist
Grover Norquist, whose no-tax pledge is central to party orthodoxy.
Mr. Bush has refused to sign Mr. Norquist's pledge. Mr. Norquist
this month called Mr. Bush "washed up."
Due to his family connections--his father George H.W. Bush and
brother George W. Bush were the last two GOP presidents--Mr. Bush
has the capacity to raise substantial amounts of money as fast as
any other Republican who would join the race. He would be viewed as
a favorite of the party establishment, competing for donors and
votes with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.
Mr. Bush would also be a threat to Florida Sen. Marco Rubio,
another potential 2016 candidate. The two men share a Miami
political base--Mr. Bush's office is in the same hotel where Mr.
Rubio uses the gym when he is town.
In recent remarks, Mr. Bush had indicated he was strongly
considering running. At The Wall Street Journal's CEO Council
gathering earlier this month, he said his decision would depend on
whether he has " the skills to do it in a way that tries to lift
people's spirits and not get sucked into the vortex."
He added at the time: "I don't know if I would be a good
candidate or a bad one, but I kinda know how a Republican could
win, whether it's me or somebody else, and it has to be much more
uplifting, much more positive."
Write to Reid J. Epstein at Reid.Epstein@wsj.com
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