By Lynn R. Mitchell
In Tuesday’s Washington Post, “Right Turn” columnist Jennifer Rubin noted that Jeb Bush has a big advantage in minority outreach that is somewhat lacking in other possible 2016 GOP candidates (see Minority outreach that works). She wrote:
The most interesting part of the Mason-Dixon Florida Poll may not be that 59 percent of Republicans there want Jeb Bush to run for president. He was, after all, a successful governor there. Rather, two other figures pop out: A large share of the Hispanic vote in both parties (44 percent) and of independents (50 percent) want him to run. It is a telling reminder that saying you want to reach out, after deciding you want to be president, is a far different thing than having an established appeal with non-traditional GOP voters. Bush got 61 percent of the Hispanic vote in his first gubernatorial election and 56 percent in his re-election.
Ms. Rubin looked at the 2016 field’s past performance with minorities:
Senator Rand Paul (R-KY): “In 2010 he got 13 percent of the African American vote, as we have previously noted.”
Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ): “Got about half the Hispanic vote in 2013 (up from 32 percent in his first election) and 21 percent of the African American vote (up from 9 percent) as he won reelection in New Jersey.”
Gov. John Kasich (R-Ohio): “Got about a quarter of the African American vote in his last election, up from 8 percent in his first election.”
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL): “Got 20 percent of the African American vote and 55 percent of the Hispanic vote in his 2010 Senate race.”
Former Gov. Rick Perry (R-TX) won 38 percent of the Hispanic vote” in his last election.
Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI): Last November, he “got only 10 percent of the African American.”
Republicans must do better in minority outreach. Jeb Bush has a proven record in past elections.
LynnRMitchell.com 