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U.S. NEWS A5
Wednesday 4 November
Many Bush backers in New Hampshire have ‘moved on’ from Jeb
KATHLEEN RONAYNE turns to New Hampshire for Former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown prepares his barn for
Associated Press a three-day swing on his a campaign event before the expected arrival of Republican
CONCORD, New Hamp- “Jeb Can Fix It” tour and presidential candidate, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Tuesday,
shire (AP) — Jeb Bush shifts staff up from his Miami Nov. 3, 2015, in Rye, N.H.
sought to revive a sagging headquarters, some promi-
campaign for president in nent Bush family support- (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New Hampshire on Tues- ers say the campaign still
day, committing anew to hasn’t contacted them. haven’t helped persuade and what not, maybe that
a state with deep ties to John Stabile, a four-time them otherwise. will make people forget
his family. He’ll start from a state Republican Party “Maybe if Jeb continues the debate a little bit and
position of weakness that chairman who served to do a lot of appearanc- they’ll give him a second
some family loyalists say is as finance chairman for es and a lot of town halls look,” Vincent said.q
of his own making. George H.W. Bush’s presi-
Eager to distinguish him- dential bids, said he’s not
self from his family legacy alone among Bush advo-
at the outset of his 2016 cates who expected to get
bid, Bush failed to tap the a call from Jeb Bush — and
support of many longtime have not.
friends in the state. Many in “It’s been mind-boggling
the old Bush network now to me that the people we
say they’ve picked anoth- worked with for a long time
er candidate to support or never heard from any-
are staying out of the pri- body,” said Stabile, who’s
mary process altogether. unsure if he’ll endorse
“Folks who had historically any candidate this time
been with his father and around.
his brother and were look- Rich Killion, Bush’s senior
ing to maybe participate New Hampshire adviser,
in his campaign were basi- says the campaign is go-
cally ignored,” said former ing after “every vote and
New Hampshire Sen. Judd everybody,” and will be
Gregg, who endorsed Bush well-positioned to turn out
last week and is now a top supporters on Election Day.
backer of his campaign. Bush has a dozen paid staff
“A lot of those people in New Hampshire, more
moved on,” Gregg said. than any other state, and
Having started the 2016 plans to add more. His
campaign as the early campaign and an allied
Republican front-runner, super political action com-
Bush has tumbled in prefer- mittee plan to spend at
ence polls as voters flock to least $28 million on adver-
political outsiders such as tising there — almost triple
real estate mogul Donald their budget for any other
Trump and retired neuro- early state, according to
surgeon Ben Carson. Bush data provided by Kantar
is battling his one-time pro- Media’s CMAG advertising
tege, Florida Sen. Marco tracker.
Rubio for support within the Those resources alone
party establishment. haven’t yet won over long-
After a lackluster perfor- time Bush loyalists, either
mance in the last Repub- because they were ig-
lican presidential debate, nored early — or just think
Bush shook up his cam- it’s time for someone with a
paign and refocused on different last name.
New Hampshire, which Among them are former
holds the first primary on New Hampshire attorney
the campaign calendar general Tom Rath and for-
next February. Aides have mer U.S. Senator John E. Su-
said this week’s bus tour will nunu, both past Bush-family
be the first of long-stretches supporters who are now
of time in the state, where backing Ohio Gov. John
Bush plans to keep holding Kasich.
town hall-style meetings Mark Vincent, chairman
while adding more informal of the Hillsborough County
“retail” stops where he can Republican Party, said par-
chat at length with small ty activists are worried that
groups of voters. nominating Bush would put
“I do think he’s running a the party in a weak posi-
classic New Hampshire tion to take on Democratic
campaign, which is exactly front-runner Hillary Rodham
what’s going to benefit him Clinton in the general elec-
the most,” Gregg said. tion — and Bush’s lacklus-
But even now, as Bush re- ter debate performances
