A.G. Gancarski
The one-day “Jeb Can Fix It” Florida tour Tuesday made its third and final stop in Jacksonville with the Bush campaign’s attempt to reverse flagging poll numbers and waning insider buy-in.
His event in Tampa saw him compare himself to Abraham Lincoln, saying, “If Lincoln was alive today, imagine the foolishness he’d have to suffer” with advisers and pundits attempting to remake him.
Bush, downstate, advised against trusting “the rhetoric of reform over a record of reform,” pledging not to play “angry agitator” in the mold of Donald Trump.
What would he do in Jacksonville?
It was notable how few prominent local Republicans were present in a support role, considering how beloved he was in the city as governor.
Councilmembers Jim Love, Aaron Bowman, and Al Ferraro stood behind Bush as he worked the crowd of a couple hundred (a number padded with plant employees) in a small segment of an airplane manufacturing facility. None of the three made a beeline to media to enthuse about the Joyful Tortoise before the event.
In the crowd was Husein Cumber, a JEA Board member who was a major Pioneer fundraiser ($250,000) for George W. Bush’s 2004 campaign.
Bush, purportedly touting his new e-book, positioned himself as antithesis to those in Washington who think of themselves as a “be all end all” before going in on the effect of lowered workforce participation rates.
“People are suffering; they don’t think the American Dream works for them,” Bush said.
Bush then pivoted to a discussion of his record as governor, and reformer.
“The things that were broken, we fixed … and I know we can fix Washington, D.C., as well,” he said, followed by a brief burst of applause.
Bush got his next applause line as he said he’d “give the military all the support they need.”
“When I’m president of the United States, we won’t have a cynic-in-chief, we’ll have a commander in chief,” Bush said, before describing his “peace through strength” approach, which would allow us to “grow our economy.”
“The world without American leadership will likely send good people in harm’s way quicker,” Bush said.
“One final point about politics these days: This isn’t about the big personalities on the stage.
“It should be about someone who wants to unite the country … I’m sick of the politics of division,” Bush said, finally getting actual sustained applause.
“We’re on the verge of greatness again,” Bush said, yet if we don’t start “fixing things,” decline is imminent.
From there, a standing ovation.
Bush, as he has during the campaign, revisited the familiar “conservative reformer” tropes, talking about what a hard worker he is, and drawing connections between his time in Tallahassee and what he’d do in Washington.
What was missing from this appearance, however, is what has been missing throughout his campaign.
A sense of spontaneity. A flair for the dramatic. The ability to make the emotional connection that was a hallmark of Ronald Reagan speeches, which owed as much to the monologues in Golden Age cinema as they did to Peggy Noonan.
What we got instead: Some strong points about the outmoded “mid-20th century” job programs for 21st century workers and needs.
He also gave requisite talking points about needing a strong military to keep us safe.
The biggest challenge he faced as governor? “Four tropical storms in 16 months.”
The bet Bush has made is that his record as governor is as memorable to voters as it is important to his campaign rhetoric.
So far, it doesn’t seem that sales pitch is leading people to convert.
The post-performance reviews were tepid.
Matthew Corrigan, noted Bush biographer, said that Jeb was “better in person than on TV.”
Ferraro, meanwhile, said that he was “happy to see [Bush] running. He’s a good man. I like all the Republican candidates.
From there, a media gaggle.
When asked for a state-of-the-race type statement, Bush used a seeming football analogy, saying the race was in the “second quarter” and reminding the press that Herman Cain was winning at an analogous point four years ago.
And, hearkening back to his father’s use of the phrase “vision thing,” Bush said that the “bigger personalities on the stage don’t have vision.”
Turning to his bete noire, Bush attempted to draw differences.
“I don’t know what Donald Trump stands for” or “what his views are.”
“Trump is about his personality,” Bush said, rather than conservative values.
Meanwhile, Bush reiterated his recent characterization of himself as a “grinder” who keeps “grinding every day.”
Bush’s bet seems to be that “3 yards and a cloud of dust” will win this campaign.
What was telling, though, is that in Jacksonville, where he scored so many strong PR moments as governor, not a single high-profile Republican elected official made it out.
Lenny Curry had a scheduling conflict. As, apparently, did John Peyton and John Delaney.
The councilmembers who were in the house weren’t exactly in a rush to give a rousing endorsement.
All of this isn’t to say that Bush has “lost” Jacksonville.
However, he doesn’t seem to be winning it.
And if he’s not winning where he’s a known quantity, how much confidence can his backers have in his ability to win where he’s much less well-known?
