EX-PRESIDENTS REFUSE TO SUPPORT THEIR PARTY’S 2016 NOMINEE
Former “Republican” presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush will not support their party’s presumptive nominee for the White House in 2016.
According to Jordan Rudner of The Texas Tribune, both ex-presidents will refrain from endorsing Donald Trump in his bid against Hillary Clinton.
Another Bush – Jeb! – dropped out of the 2016 race months ago after a fourth-place finish in early-voting South Carolina, a state his father and brother both won.
“At age 91, President Bush is retired from politics,” the elder Bush’s spokesman told Rudner. “He came out of retirement to do a few things for Jeb, but those were the exceptions that proved the rule.”
Bush 43 gave a similar diss, with his spokesman telling Rudner that the he “does not plan to participate in or comment on the presidential campaign.”
This is the first time either of these status quo GOP standard-bearers have ever refused to back a “Republican” presidential nominee. The elder Bush backed Bob Dole in 1996, his son in 2000 and 2004, John McCain in 2008 and Mitt Romney in 2012.
Bush 43 support his father’s bids as well as the campaigns of McCain and Romney.
What do we make of this snub?
Not much … the Bush brand is obviously in tatters, much like the “Republican” brand. The only real reason a nominee would benefit from having them on board would be their financial connections – and it’ clear Trump doesn’t need those.
What if the Bushes decide to get involved against Trump?
Our guess is that would work out about as well as Romney’s bid to sabotage the campaign of “The Donald.” Or the whole Ted Cruz-John Kasich alliance.