By Robert Laurie ——Bio and Archives--December 10, 2015
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The super PAC supporting Jeb Bush is racing through its massive war chest much faster than money is coming in, spending close to $50 million in a record blitz that has so far failed to lift the former Florida governor’s sputtering presidential candidacy. The group, Right to Rise, has already gone through nearly half of the $103 million it brought in during the first half of the year, records show. It raised only about $13 million in the five months that followed, according to a person familiar with the figure.
That leaves the super PAC with about $67 million heading into the first 2016 GOP nominating contests. The sum still surpasses the resources of rival groups, but it is not clear whether Right to Rise’s financial might — viewed earlier this year as Bush’s distinct advantage — will be enough to help separate him from the pack.Here's a hint: It won't. Let's set aside the difficult-to-refute notion that "brand Bush" is tainted beyond repair. Even if that wasn't the case, you're still left with the undeniable truth that Jeb has never once offered a compelling reason for his Presidency. Disagree with them all you like, but other candidates have offered their visions. Jeb has been running a "me too" campaign that seems more interested in attacking GOP rivals than taking down Hillary. ....Perhaps that's not surprising, considering that he gave Hillary a medal honoring her abiding love of the Constitution. For whatever reason, Jeb seems hell-bent on dragging his campaign out - at least as far as New Hampshire. After several campaign reboots his PAC still has north of $50 Million, and yes, that's still a lot of cash. But, with each passing day, it becomes harder and harder to make a realistic case that he has a genuine path to victory. If you're a passionate candidate on the edge of success, you can make a compelling argument that cash will put you over the top. Unfortunately for Jeb, it's never felt like his heart was really in this, and he's a long, long, way from the "edge of success."
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