If there was a Biggest Loser reality show in politics, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush would be the winner by a mile.
A new analysis of votes for presidential candidates who had dropped out of the race, puts Bush in the front.
Overall, more than 229,000 votes have been cast for ex-presidential candidates, led by 88,344 for Bush, according to the Smart Politics report from the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs.
Even candidates that never got off the ground have won votes since leaving the race. Author and research Eric J. Ostermeier gave these numbers: Rick Santorum (8,023), Lindsey Graham (4,481), Jim Gilmore (1,691), George Pataki (1,691), and Bobby Jindal (219).
The highlights of his report include:
— Since Bush’s exit on February 20th, the former Florida governor has won 88,344 votes in 19 states and territories – more than twice as many votes as any other ex-candidate. Bush received more than one percent of the vote in Vermont (1.80 percent), Texas (1.25 percent), Tennessee (1.12 percent), and Massachusetts (1.02 percent).
— Ben Carson has received the second most votes as an ex-candidate with 37,942 votes including 1.75 percent in Idaho, 1.61 percent in Michigan, 1.51 percent in Louisiana, and 1.31 percent in Mississippi.
— Four other Republican candidates have recorded more than 10,000 votes since they’ve suspended their campaigns this cycle: Rand Paul (32,098), Mike Huckabee (27,141), Chris Christie (16,013), and Carly Fiorina (11,484). Other ex-candidates receiving votes in primaries and caucuses are Rick Santorum (8,023), Lindsey Graham (4,481), Jim Gilmore (1,691), George Pataki (1,691), and Bobby Jindal (219).
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected]
