DES MOINES, iowa — Jeb Bush’s big donors and allies are tantalized by his promise to decide “in short order” whether to run for president.
But supporters are struggling to understand what his actions mean and whether they can predict his political intentions.
Bush is scheduled to give the commencement address Monday at the University of South Carolina during his second visit in recent months to the state that’s set to host the South’s first presidential primary.
On the eve of that appearance, he said in a television interview, “I think I would be a good president” and announced plans to release an electronic book early next year, along with roughly 250,000 thousands of e-mails from his time as Florida’s governor. Surely, those are signs he’s in.
Bush also is expanding his private equity business, and advisers insist he’s not courting a political staff for Iowa and New Hampshire, even as other would-be candidates assemble their 2016 campaign teams in the early voting states. Surely, those are signs he’s out.
About all anyone can say for certain is that, as Bush himself has said, he is still thinking about it.
“He’s begun the journey. How long it will take him, I don’t know,” said Al Cardenas, a longtime Bush friend and former chairman of the American Conservative Union. “People are interpreting activity to conclude that he’s closer to running. I’m not of that school.”
Bush has said he expects to make a decision by the end of the month.
As the son of one president and brother of another, he has the power to transform the 2016 contest like no other Republican. He can tap into his family’s vast political network, and his campaign would attract strong support from major donors and widespread media attention.
In an interview with ABC’s Miami affiliate WPLG-TV, Bush expressed confidence that he would make a fine president. At about the same time, he will make public about 250,000 e-mails from his time in office, in an effort to promote transparency and to “let people make up their mind.”
