No longer is there speculation about how Jeb Bush might strategize his way around the Republican debate-and-primary scene. Yes, he will continue being the consummate “reasonable,” “moderate yet conservative” candidate in the mix.
“I’m not a grievance candidate,” he recently pointed out.
Actually, Bush seems to be doubling down on the “adult”-image priority. He refuses to lash out like Donald Trump or some candidates who are starting to use whatever rhetoric or gimmicks might get them pre-debate, Trump-like publicity.
“I’m the tortoise in the race–but I’m a joyful tortoise,” impishly notes Bush.
In short, let Lindsey Graham and Rand Paul put out dumb, ostensibly Trump-topping videos. Let Mike Huckabee invoke Holocaust “oven” imagery over the Iran nuclear deal. Let Ted Cruz call out Mitch McConnell as a liar on the Senate floor. Let the other GOP presidential candidates go to any lengths to get air time in competition with Donald Trump. Bush will ride the joy shtick.
Bush has plenty of money, organizational heft, establishment support and knows that if he can just get a piece of that social conservative vote, he could do well enough in Iowa. Not win or place, mind you–it’s still Iowa–but maybe show. And that would be spun, of course, as a victory for Bush, as well as for pragmatic politics.
And then there’s his self-defined “secret weapon.” Look for increasing appearances by Columba and the kids on the hustings, as well as some joy-wrapped, kumbaya messages in Spanish.