Jeb! appears to be entering the 'acceptance phase' of grief

I've long been arguing that Jeb Bush started his campaign in the denial phase. He's never really had a chance. He hung his political hat on the idea that he was a fundraising powerhouse with deep GOP ties. That was, somehow, supposed to help him overcome a decided lack of voter enthusiasm. It was, and is, a pipe dream. The anger phase began with the attacks. Not those aimed at Trump, mind you. It was the targeting of Rubio - a man whose praises Jeb had been singing for years - that indicated something was deeply wrong with Jeb's campaign.

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We've seen depression and bargaining for the last few weeks as Jeb tried to make sense of why he'd been unable to find any traction. A series of bad jokes, half measures, and misguided tough-guy moments that he hoped would stave off the inevitable collapse only seemed to cement the idea that his aspirations were unattainable. Now, it looks like he's entering the acceptance phase. As The Politico reports, Jeb's supporters are getting more vocal about their belief that there's no way to turn things around. ...And Jeb might finally be ready to see the light.

"The press is totally at the mercy of Donald Trump,” Bush said after Edward Scott, 58, a Bush supporter, stood up and expressed concern that the former governor’s pitch on preparedness and policy “doesn’t resonate” and that the bombastic businessman has been “knocking [him] off center.”

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Moments later though, a second likely Bush supporter, David Villinger, 62, stood up and offered a similar lament that his campaign “has been co-opted by the P.T. Barnum of our time.” Then a third questioner encouraged Bush to show more fire, asking Bush if he could be more of “an [S.O.B.]” like his brother. “I’m the only one standing up to the bully,” Bush shot back at Scott. But many in this audience, although they’re supporting a candidate they still believe would make the best president, worry that it might be too late.

And that's when he dropped this nugget:

“It’s all been decided, apparently,” Bush said. “The pundits have already figured it out. We don’t have to go vote. I should stop campaigning maybe.”

Obviously, we get what he's saying here. It's not over until the voting takes place. Until the ballots are cast, there's still a chance that he can reverse his fortunes. This was intended as an off the cuff jab at pundits - virtually all of whom are sure Jeb's goose is cooked. But if you read between the lines, it also sounds like reality is starting to sink in. This isn't something winning candidates say. Somewhere in the back of Jeb's mind is the idea that "Maybe this just isn't going to happen." Recently, Jeb told NBC News that he'd do well in South Carolina and that the state is not his last stand.

"No it isn't. The obituaries have been written probably once a week, and we are in it for the long haul. But we are going to do well here."

That's a nice bit of campaign posturing, but the fact is this: Jeb is currently polling between 4th and 6th place in the state. In Nevada, he's dead last with only 1% support. He is dangling by the thinnest of threads. If his performance in SC is anything other than a shocking turnaround, he'd be wise to quit. ...And you can bet he knows that.

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