Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush’s presidential campaign is looking past the Feb. 20 primary in South Carolina, where Bush is polling in fourth place, and is hoping to keep his supporters focused on later states where he has a better chance.
Bush finished fourth in New Hampshire and received the support of approximately 2.8 percent of caucus-goers in Iowa, and in South Carolina, an average of polls has him at 10 percent, well short of Donald Trump’s 36 percent.
But Bush is looking past the Palmetto State to a series of March nominating contests. The Bush campaign released a series of statements this week from endorsers residing in states with upcoming primaries in an effort to show the governor is built to last.
“As president of the United States, Jeb Bush will rebuild our military, destroy ISIS and protect our veterans who have sacrificed to keep our homeland safe,” said Eric Cantor, former House Majority leader who lost his seat in a primary, in a statement from the Bush campaign. “This is why Jeb ran strong in New Hampshire and this is why he will be successful in Virginia on March 1.”
The campaign also highlighted Bush’s support in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico, which will cast its votes on March 6.
“As a governor, I have great respect for what Jeb achieved in Florida and I am committed to helping him win in Puerto Rico,” said former Puerto Rico Gov. Luis Fortuno. “Clearly, New Hampshire has strengthened Jeb’s campaign as we move forward.”
Bush, who ranks fifth out of seven candidates in the Washington Examiner‘s newest GOP presidential power rankings, will hold three events in South Carolina on Tuesday. The governor has also enlisted his brother, former President George W. Bush, to cut a radio ad for his presidential campaign in the Palmetto State, as the Bush campaign is not airing television ads in South Carolina at present.
