By Calling Jeb Bush "the Frontrunner," Has Rick Perry Quietly Taken Himself Out of the 2016 Presidential Race?

Jeb Bush, former Florida Governor, announced on December 16 that he will "actively explore" a run for the White House in 2016. Bush said in a Facebook post that he will create a new leadership PAC in January "that will help me facilitate conversations with citizens across America to discuss the most critical challenges facing our exceptional nation. The PAC’s purpose will be to support leaders, ideas and policies that will expand opportunity and prosperity for all Americans. In the coming months, I hope to visit with many of you and have a conversation about restoring the promise of America." ~~~~~ Jeb Bush would enter the presidential race as a financial powerhouse able to draw on his brother's campaign donors in the conservative and moderate wings of the GOP. Besides his family name, Bush would bring with him a two-term record that is popular with conservative-leaning voters in Florida, as well as expertise on education and strong ties to the Hispanic community. But he would have major weaknesses in what could be a very strong field of Republican presidential candidates. Some grassroots conservatives say they will reject Bush if he runs because of his support of Common Core education standards and comprehensive immigration reform. And Bush made clear early in December that he anticipates friction with the conservative base if he seeks the nomination. Bush explains that he thinks he should be able to lose primaries in order to preserve his more moderate principles, which he believes are needed to "win the general [election]." Bush says that after their November mid-term election victories, Republicans now have the opportunity “to actually show that we can, in an adult-like way...govern, lead.” Allies of Hillary Clinton, the as-yet unannounced front-runner for the Democratic nomination in 2016, have been forcefully making the point that they think Bush would be a formidable opponent -- because of his organization, access to donors, record as Florida governor and continuing popularity there in what is a key presidential swing state, and his credibility with the Hispanic community. ~~~~~ Jeb Bush's preliminary moves toward a 2016 presidential run affects certain potential GOP candidates more than others. Senator Marco Rubio, because he is, like Bush, a Florida Republican, has been seen as withdrawing if Bush enters the race. But Senator Rubio, who has Cuban roots because his parents migrated to America to escape the Castro regime, has made a forceful stand against President Obama's opening up of US-Cuba relations, and has recently said that Jeb Bush's presence in the field of GOP presidential hopefuls will not influence his own decision about running in 2016. Rubio said he will stay on course to decide early next year about his own possible run. ~~~~~ The other possible 2016 GOP candidate who would heavily feel the impact of a Jeb Bush candidacy is Texas Governor Rick Perry. Governor Perry has several problems if he decides to run -- his humiliating withdrawal from the 2012 field after a dismal showing in the GOP presidential candidate debates, his inability to compete with a Bush family member for major Texas donors, and his indictment under Texas law for abuse of power in trying to get a Democrat county attorney to resign after a "driving while intoxicated" conviction. But, interestingly, Governor Perry made a comment this week that supports the Jeb Bush candidacy, calling Bush "probably the front-runner" in the 2016 race for the White House, according to the Washington Times. Perry told radio host Hugh Hewitt : “Jeb’s a good man, a good friend. He was a good governor. You know, him getting in the race, I think, helps the field. I would suggest to you he’s probably, since he said what he said, he’s probably the front-runner at this particular point in time.” The two men disagree on some issues, including the federal Common Core educational standards, which Bush has championed and Perry opposes. But, Perry welcomed Bush to the race. Perry also criticized Hillary Clinton, the presumptive Democratic candidate who leads in some early presidential polls, by taking aim at her tenure as Secretary of State. Perry said that Clinton and her boss, President Barack Obama, both did a "miserable" and "feckless" job of managing global affairs, and presided over numerous "foreign policy debacles." Perry said : “She's got a lot of questions about her performance, about the positions she’s had whether it’s Benghazi, or whether it’s allowing the Iranians to head towards a nuclear weapon.” Perry said of Clinton that "there’s a difference between traveling a lot and making good decisions, and I think that’s going to be the real question." ~~~~~ Dear readers, Governor Perry made strong points about Hillary Clinton, but his labeling Jeb Bush as "the frontrunner" certainly weakens his own position. Does Rick Perry think he can overcome Jeb Bush's advantages because of his own greater appeal to the GOP conservative base, or is Perry actually acknowledging that, with or without Jeb Bush as a rival, his position is so weak in a strong field that he knows he has little chance of garnering the 2016 GOP nomination ans so is now going to focus on cabinet level jobs -- in several of which his record as Texas Governor suggests he would be excellent -- Secretary of Energy or of Commerce come to mind.