Jeb Bush raises money for potential presidential bid in Fort Worth

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush cut a swath through Texas this week, hoping to shore up funding for a potential presidential bid in 2016.

Thursday, the Republican’s fundraising blitz took him to the City Club of Fort Worth, where he met with dozens of supporters at a private breakfast fundraiser that was expected to pump tens of thousands of dollars into his Right to Rise super PAC.

“Texas has a boatload of money,” said Jim Riddlesperger, political science professor at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth. “Texas is critical for any candidate running for the presidency, both Democrats and Republicans.

“And Texas is critical for Jeb Bush especially,” he said. “There are three generations of Bush investment in Texas and he needs to take advantage of that.”

Jeb Bush is the brother of former President George W. Bush in Dallas, son of former President George H.W. Bush in Houston and father of Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush.

Thursday’s local appearance came a day after a Dallas fundraiser, where his brother attended to show support and help raise money for him and former U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison indicated she will endorse him for president.

Jeb Bush’s son, who lived in Fort Worth until he was elected to statewide office, was not able to attend the event.

Those attending the fundraiser, which was closed to the media, paid between $5,000 for one person and $100,000 for a couple to attend.

Prominent Fort Worth Republican Juan Hernandez was among those in the crowd and said Bush gave a “wonderful” speech.

“He mentioned his brother and how ‘W’ had done as president and how his dad performed as president,” Hernandez said. “Since he was a kid, he’s been watching the two of them, ... watching the politics.”

Bush also told the crowd about his wife, Columba, and how important she is in his life, noting “how he’s loved her since he was 17.”

“He talked about the importance of family in his life,” Hernandez said, as well as “the importance of the United States being a leader in the world again.”

Bush’s visit to Fort Worth came several days after Texan and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz formally threw his hat into the GOP presidential ring for next year.

Democratic response

Democrats were quick to speak out against another Bush presidency, saying Jeb Bush would bring more of the same to the White House.

“His own man? I think not,” said Holly Shullman, national press secretary for the Democratic National Committee. “The Bush economy favors the richest over the middle class, and on that core agenda there is absolutely no daylight between Jeb Bush and his brother.”

“A Jeb Bush presidency would be about looking out for himself and people like him over the middle class. ... Not only has that been Jeb Bush’s record as governor, but we know what to expect from a Bush presidency because we’ve seen it before: policies that wreck the economy and give massive breaks to the wealthy and corporations at everyone else’s expense.”

Former first lady Barbara Bush, who earlier this month sent out a fundraising email on behalf of her son, clearly disagrees.

“Jeb is our best chance of taking back the White House in 2016, and I hope that you will join me in pushing him to run,” she wrote.

‘Incredible enthusiasm’

Last year, Jeb Bush announced he was “actively exploring” a possible bid for president.

He created the Right to Rise super PAC to “support candidates who share our optimistic, conservative, positive vision for helping every American get ahead,” according to the PAC website.

And he created a Texas Leadership Committee, on which Fort Worth’s Kit and Charlie Moncrief and Anne and John Marion are among those who serve.

Before that, he campaigned for fellow Republican candidates across the country, including his son.

At one point he flew in to join George P. at the Ol’ South Pancake House in Fort Worth before the two boarded a campaign bus to travel around the state.

Fort Worth supporters on Thursday welcomed Jeb Bush with “incredible enthusiasm,” Hernandez said.

“He has joy in his heart.”

This story was originally published March 26, 2015 at 9:51 AM with the headline "Jeb Bush raises money for potential presidential bid in Fort Worth."