Still struggling to rebound, Bush cancels ad buys in Iowa and South Carolina, redeploys staff

[Miles Archer]

Source: Washington Post

Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush is canceling reserved advertising time in Iowa and South Carolina, the latest reminder of his struggles to connect with voters -- and a sign of possible fundraising troubles.

Instead, Bush plans to redeploy roughly 50 staffers to the first four states holding contests next year — Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada. Some will be leaving desk jobs at campaign headquarters in Miami while others already working in states like Virginia and Illinois to collect signatures to appear on the primary ballot will move on to a new field assignment.

Staffing in New Hampshire -- the state most critical to Bush's early chances -- will double to 40. Senior aides and top campaign bundlers said that Bush's total staff in the Granite State will dwarf the combined staffs of Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Ohio Gov. John Kasich and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie -- Bush's primary rivals for votes in the state.

In Iowa, the Bush team will grow to about 20, aides said. Staffing in South Carolina and Nevada will climb to about 10.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/12/30/bush-canceling-ad-buys-in-iowa-and-south-carolina/?postshare=9351451520761852&tid=ss_fb

---

https://img.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=

Jeb Bush pauses as he is asked a question from the audience at the Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum during a campaign stop Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015, in Waterloo, Iowa. (Matthew Putney/The Courier via AP)

[Gore1FL]

1. I don't think another Bush will ever be elected, at least for years to come.

That brand is ruined.

[rurallib]

3. maybe he should change his name to Arbusto

then he can pretend he's not a Bush and win people over with his incredible ideas.

Yes indeed - Jeb! Arbusto

[Gore1FL]

4. Trump would try to deport him!

[MissMillie]

2. The only Bush ads I'm seeing are from SuperPACs

but there are a lot of them

[Dawson Leery]

5. Should have let Gore have his rightful votes Jebby.

You ruined yourself.

[TexasProgresive]

6. !

[davidpdx]

7. Toast

Burnt toast.............

[Kennah]

8. A burning Bush has religious significance, and Church Lady is flaming out n/t

[saltpoint]

9. I hope this redeployment of staff

is a failure and that the wheels fly off Jeb's campaign wagon, preferably as soon as possible in January or February.

It would be a real good thing if in the first several weeks of 2016 we could be free of another Bush candidacy. There've been two Bushes too many already.

[zazen]

10. Bless his heart! (and Southerners know that's compassionately meant)

Poor fella. He can't figure out a way to exit gracefully. He's full of resentment, he doesn't understand why his dumb elder brother was elected twice, and the idea that he's actually not entitled to the presidency as a birthright continues to seem incomprehensible to him.

I can feel bad for him because at least on the national stage he's no longer a threat. I feel bad for the folks in Florida who have to put up with him, but seriously, when is the dude just going to call it a day? It's really sad on some level.

[lancer78]

11. He is thinking

That if he can stay in long enough, he will become the establishment choice. It is the only chance he has. He hopes people will say "Ewww, Trump, he cannot become our Nominee". I think he is hoping for something like what happened in Florida in 2012. Gingrich had just won a big victory in SC, but then the FL voters said "F**k that Sh*t", voted for Rmoney, and the Newt was never heard from again.

[hatrack]

12. Looks Like "The Process Is Working", Right, Heb?

.

[NBachers]

13. I hope each staffer has their own limitless campaign-fed credit cards.

[saltpoint]

14. The Bush staff down in Miami are

told to pack their longjohns and get up to New Hampshire.

It was likely a lot warmer in the Miami office. Probably a lot colder up in New Hampshire.

Having more people in the field in Iowa and New Hampshire doesn't seem as if it will make Jeb Bush an interesting speaker. He seems to have nothing to say and says it very poorly.

Jeb has money but his brother's shadow is long. The GOP base is no longer approachable with the political strategies from a decade or two ago, having been overrun by Baggers and Bible-thumpers. His candidacy lacks a rationale.

The best time for Jeb to drop out of the race was before he got in it, and the next best time is right now.