Jeb Bush had a very positive favorability rating when the 2016 Republican primary race began but he now finds himself in negative territory with a net negative favorability rating of -1.
This would be cause for concern for most campaigns, but Jeb swears he doesn't care.
When asked about the decline on NewsMax Now Friday, Bush said, “Hell if I know, I don’t really care.”
“I’m focused on these early states where my numbers are much better and I’m gonna earn this nomination in a way that will draw people towards are cause,” Bush continued. “And I do sense that people are taking it seriously now. Both in Iowa and New Hampshire people make decisions really late.”
Jeb went on to say that he seems to be "doing better" the more he appears "in front of people" but that isn't reflected in any polls I'm aware of and certainly not the specific Gallup poll he was asked about.
The idea that a Bush needs to appear in front of people so they can learn what he's all about is very amusing to me. If polls are any indication, even Republicans can determine what Jeb's agenda is based on those closest to him.
More specifically, I'm referring to the cadre of Bush cronies and Iraq War architects advising him. Even if your average Republican primary voter is in favor of bombing more brown people, these are liabilities for him. The people who advise and represent Jeb Bush represent politics as usual and, as Donald Trump has shown us, primary voters are done with politics as usual.
George W. Bush wasn't all that socially conservative by today's standards so his brother Jeb doesn't have that going for him.