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U.S. NEWSMonday 15 February 2016
George W. Bush: From South
Carolina cameo to starring role
In this Nov. 6, 2006, file photo, President George W. Bush jokes BILL BARROW for the 2016 Republican billionaire businessman’s
with his brother Florida Gov. Jeb Bush in Pensacola, Fla., where SERGIO BUSTOS presidential nomination penchant for mocking his
the president was drumming up support for local Republican Associated Press — thanks to businessman rival as a weak, privileged
candidates. Jeb Bush is summoning his brother, former President GREENVILLE, South Caroli- Donald Trump. tool of the Republican Par-
George W. Bush, to campaign for him in South Carolina. It’s not na (AP) — George W. Bush The former president had ty establishment, special
without risks, but the Bush family has long, deep political ties in won a bruising South Caro- already announced plans interests and well-heeled
the state, and the former Florida governor has little choice if he lina presidential primary on to campaign for his young- donors.
wants to join his father and brother as Oval Office occupants. his way to the Oval Office, er brother on Monday in But the exchange also
Associated Press as his father did before him. South Carolina, marking highlighted the former Flor-
Now it’s his brother’s turn, his most direct entry into ida governor’s embrace
and for Jeb Bush, the most the 2016 race to date. of his family name and
consequential foreign poli- Then Trump, the Republi- history as he jockeys with
cy decisions of his brother’s can front-runner, used the Florida Sen. Marco Rubio
time in office are suddenly final debate before the and Ohio Gov. John Ka-
front-and-center of his bid state’s Feb. 20 primary as sich to emerge from South
to keep alive his campaign an opportunity to excori- Carolina as the clear chal-
ate George W. Bush’s per- lenger to Trump, who won
formance as commander- the New Hampshire pri-
in-chief. mary, and Texas Sen. Ted
The former president, Trump Cruz, the victor in Iowa’s
said, ignored “the advice caucuses.
of his CIA” and “destabi- The approach tacks away
lized the Middle East” by from Bush’s months-long in-
invading Iraq on dubious sistence that he’s running as
claims that Saddam Hus- “my own man,” but could
sein had weapons of mass be a perfect fit for South
destruction. Carolina. Noted South Car-
“I want to tell you: they olina Sen. Lindsey Graham,
lied,” Trump said. “They who ended his Republican
said there were weapons presidential campaign in
of mass destruction, there December and endorsed
were none. And they knew Jeb Bush in January, said:
there were none.” “The Bush name is golden
Trump didn’t let up as Bush in my state.”
tried to defend his brother, George W. Bush retains
dismissing his suggestion wide appeal among Re-
that George W. Bush built publicans, from evangeli-
a “security apparatus to cals to chamber of com-
keep us safe” after the 9/11 merce business leaders
attacks. and retired members of
“The World Trade Center the military. All are promi-
came down during your nent in South Carolina, with
brother’s reign, remember Bush campaign aide Brett
that,” Trump said, add- Foster going so far as to say
ing: “That’s not keeping us that George W. Bush is “the
safe.” most popular Republican
The onslaught — which Jeb alive.”
Bush called Trump enjoy-
ing “blood sport” — was Continued on Page 27
the latest example of the
