Jeb Bush has national organization and momentum on his side

By Lynn R. Mitchell

On Thursday, the Jeb Bush for President campaign showed the national organization that has been put together for this huge endeavor. Coming out of New Hampshire with momentum on his side, Governor Bush hit the ground running in South Carolina on Wednesday,  that has the momentum on his side going into South Carolina, Nevada, Super Tuesday, and beyond.

Leaders in the March primary states agree: Gov. Bush is the proven conservative in the race with a national organization built for the long haul.

See below for statements from leaders in Alabama, Georgia, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Virginia, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Puerto Rico. Virginia former Congessman Eric Cantor is one of the state co-chairs along with former Lieutenant Governor John Hager and Kay Coles James, formerly with the administrations of President  George W. Bush and Governor George Allen.

Virginia:

“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. Jeb’s commitment to the military and his solid conservative reforms to grow our economy are exactly what we need from the next Commander-in-Chief. This is why Jeb ran strong in New Hampshire and this is why he will be successful in Virginia on March 1.” – Former Congressman Eric Cantor

Jeb Bush’s Virginia campaign announces 60 additional heavy hitter supporters

By Lynn R. Mitchell

From the Jeb Bush for President 2016 campaign:

Today, the day before the deadline to submit signatures for the Virginia ballot, the Washington Post reported, “Republican heavy hitters join Jeb Bush’s campaign in Virginia.”

This strong show of support for Jeb Bush comes after he submitted over 10,000 signatures on November 18, twice the amount needed to qualify for the Virginia ballot. The full list of support is below.

“Jeb Bush is the leader this country needs, and the Commander in Chief I want in the Oval office to protect my family and this nation,” said State Senator Ben Chafin, of Russell County.  “Further, Jeb understands Southwest Virginia and the challenges our families are facing.  He has an energy plan that embraces domestic coal production and will put people back to work.”

Governor Bush has been to Virginia three times in the past few months, including an appearance in Bristol in September to help raise money for the Senate Republican Caucus.  He also recently attended a candidate’s forum hosted by Pat Robertson at Regent University in Virginia Beach.

“When the primary is over, there is only one candidate who is capable of defeating Hillary Clinton, and that is Jeb Bush,” said State Senator John Watkins, from Chesterfield. 

This support comes in addition to Jeb’s previously announced Virginia Co-Chairs: Kay Coles James, former Virginia Secretary of Health; Eric Cantor, former House Majority Leader; and John Hager, former Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, and other lawmakers including Jerry Kilgore, former Attorney General of Virginia.

I am proud to be part of the Jeb Bush for President team of supporters in Virginia.

Additional Jeb Bush Supporters in Virginia:

·      Veronica Angulo, Grassroots Activist, Fairfax County

·      Graves Anthony, Chair, Hampden-Sydney College Republicans

·      Peggy Armentrout, Chair, Charlotte County GOP

·      Barbara Bowie-Wittman, Grassroots Activist, Alexandria City

·      Conrad Brinkman, College Republicans, Longwood University

·      James Burton, College Republicans, UVA

·      Victor Cabral, Business Leader, Arlington County

·      Brenda Campbell, Fmr. President, Virginia Federation of Republican Women, Henry County

·      Delegate Jeff Campbell, Virginia House of Delegates, Smyth County

·      Senator Ben Chafin, Virginia Senate, Russell County

·      Spencer Chaplain, College Republican, Ferrum College

·      Maggie Cleary, Vice President, Federalist Society, UVA Law

·      Linwood Cobb, Fmr. Chair, 7th District GOP Committee; Fmr. Member, State Central Committee, Henrico County

·      Ray Connor, Commissioner of Revenue, Chesapeake City

·      Chandler Crenshaw, Fmr. Chair, William & Mary College Republicans

·      Richard Cullen, Business Leader, Richmond City

·      Alex Owen Davis, Grassroots Activist, Radford City

·      Tom Farrell, Business Leader, Henrico County

·      Peter Finocchio, Former Chairman, UVa College Republicans, Grassroots Activist, Fairfax County

·      David Fonseca, College Republicans, Liberty University

·      Renee Fonseca, Grassroots Activist, Fairfax County

·      Heywood Fralin, Business Leader, Roanoke City

·      Dennis Free, Ret. Undersheriff Virginia Beach City; Ret. VBPD Police Captain, Virginia Beach City

·      Marvin Gilliam, Business Leader, Washington County

·      Bill Goodwin, Business Leader, Henrico County

·      Barbara Greiner, Grassroots Activist, Fairfax County

·      Marianne Horinko, Fmr. Acting Administrator of the EPA under President George W. Bush, Fairfax County

·      Tyler Johnson, Fmr. Chair, William & Mary College Republicans

·      Rear Admiral Jack Kavanaugh, Ret. USN; President, Downtown Norfolk Republican Club, Norfolk City

·      Harry Kelso, Grassroots Activist, Henrico County

·      Jay Lacano, Fmr. Chair, ODU College Republicans

·      Caroline Lane, Ret. USN; Grassroots Activist, Fairfax County

·      Ethan Lane, Grassroots Activist, Alexandria City

·      Anna Lee, Grassroots Activist, Fairfax County

·      Jorge Lozano, Grassroots Activists, Fairfax County

·      Shirley Miles, Grassroots Activist, Fairfax County

·      Elizabeth Minneman, Immediate Past Chair, College Republican Federation of Virginia

·      Lynn Mitchell, Fmr. Member, State Central Committee, Grassroots Activist, Augusta County

·      Tim Nank, Grassroots Activist; Fmr. Candidate, Virginia House of Delegates, Fairfax County

·      Sheila Noll, Member, Board of Supervisors, York County

·      Nina Ovieda, Community Leader, Arlington County

·      Eric Philipkosky, Grassroots Activist, Richmond City

·      Susan Ralston, Fmr. Special Assistant to President George W. Bush, Culpeper County

·      Dan and Sonia Runde, Grassroots Activist, Fairfax County

·      Isabel “Izzy” Santa, Fmr. RNC Hispanic Communications Director, Arlington County

·      Colin Sapko, Treasurer, George Mason College Republicans

·      Don Scoggins, Fmr. Candidate for Occuquan Supervisor, Prince William County

·      John Scott, Immediate Past Chair, Young Republican Federation of Virginia

·      Kathy Simmons, Grassroots Activist, Fairfax County

·      Gerrie Smith, Grassroots Activist, Fairfax County

·      Mark Smith, Grassroots Activist, Loudoun County

·      The Honorable John Snow, Fmr. Secretary of the Treasury, Richmond City

·      Theresa Speake, Fmr. Assistant Secretary, Department of Energy, Fairfax County

·      Phillip Stucky, College Republican, UVA

·      Mauricio Tamargo, Grassroots Activist, Fairfax County

·      The Honorable Nick Taubman, Fmr. U.S. Ambassador to Romania, Roanoke City

·      Breccan Thies, College Republican, University of Mary Washington

·      Greg Thies, College Republican, UVA

·      Tamara Thies, Grassroots Activist, Charlottesville City

·      Thomas Turner, Chair, Western Tidewater Young Republicans; Vice-Chair, Suffolk City GOP, Suffolk City

·      Rick Valentine, Grassroots Activist, Fairfax County

·      Adam Washington, 1^st CD Young Republican Representative; Fmr. Chair, Fredericksburg-Area Young Republicans, Stafford County

·      Senator John Watkins, Virginia Senate, Chesterfield County

·      Kristi Way, Member, State Central Committee, Henrico County

·      Rick West, Member, City Council, Chesapeake City

·      Fay Williamson, Fmr. President, Virginia Federation of Republican Women

·      Neb Yegezu, College Republican, NVCC, Fairfax County

Previous Endorsers

• State Co-Chair, Eric Cantor, Fmr. Majority Leader, United States House of Representatives
• State Co-Chair, Kay Coles James, Fmr. Member of the Virginia State Board of Education
• State Co-Chair, John Hager, Fmr. Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
• Jerry Kilgore, Fmr. Attorney General of Virginia
• Delegate David Yancey, Virginia House of Delegates
• Delegate Terry Kilgore, Virginia House of Delegates
• Delegate Will Morefield, Virginia House of Delegates
• Delegate Bobby Orrock, Virginia House of Delegates
• Sheriff Ken Stolle, Virginia Beach City
• Debbie Ritter, Member, City Council, Chesapeake City
• Stephanie Zemanek, College Republican, University of Richmond

 

*titles for identification purposes only

Jeb2016.com

Not so fast on counting Jeb Bush out of 2016 – UPDATE: Jeb endorsed by Rubio’s former chief-of staff, newspaper doubles down

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Not so fast on the calls for Governor Jeb Bush to step aside for 2016. He’s not going anywhere especially since many of those calls came after the former Florida governor had a whopping four minutes and fifty-eight seconds to present his case to voters during a dysfunctional, chaotic CNBC two-hour event that they tried to bill as a debate.

None of the candidates had much time to express anything serious; Governor Bush had the least:

Debate clock:
Rubio: 8:44
Fiorina: 8:37
Kasich: 8:06
Trump: 7:44
Cruz: 6:52
Christie: 6:30
Huckabee: 5:47
Carson: 5:28
Paul: 5:03
Bush: 4:56

One call for Jeb to drop out came from a young fellow blogger who bemoaned the fact that Jeb talked about “boring policy positions.” Interesting … because that’s what Washington is all about. Maybe that’s why the young blogger’s chosen candidate, Marco Rubio, doesn’t like being in the U.S. Senate. Too boring. After all, understanding policy discussions is perhaps what separates the adults from the children in D.C.

For a little perspective, Jeb’s brother faced similar doubts sixteen years ago, and then lost Iowa and New Hampshire. We all know how that turned out.

Jeb Bush has Thursday fundraiser in Bristol for Virginia GOP senate candidates

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Java With Jeb. Billed as coffee and conversation with Jeb Bush at Bristol’s Birthplace of Country Music Museum, it’s the kind of team effort from a top-tier presidential contender that is welcomed by Virginia Republicans.

The former Florida governor will headline a Thursday fundraiser for the Virginia Senate Republican Caucus. As Shaun Kenney noted at Bearing Drift, “[GOP 21st senate district candidate] Nancy Dye has to be pleased. More to the point, this is the sort of team rally that candidates ought to be doing, especially in states where early support matters.” Dr. Dye is in a three-way race with Democratic incumbent John Edwards and independent Don Caldwell.

Governor Bush is paying attention to Virginia and has ties that make those connections even more important in this battleground state that has gone blue the past two presidential elections. President Barack Obama won by 6.3 percent of the vote in 2008 only to see that margin shrink to 3.88 percent in 2012. A Republican could win in 2016.

Bush has friends in high places in the Commonwealth — former Lieutenant Governor John Hager whose son Henry is married to George W’s daughter Jenna, Ed Gillespie who was right-hand man to President George W. Bush and former chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia, Kay James who was a member of the George Allen and George W. Bush administrations, and Eric Cantor whose influence and connections run throughout not only Virginia but to the highest levels in D.C. and beyond.

Republican victories provide opportunity for outreach with RPV

By Daniel P. Cortez

Nationally as conservatives revel becoming the majority party in the U.S. Senate, Virginia’s Republicans eye new minority and independent converts with the right leader.  Tenth District Congresswoman-elect Barbara Comstock and her new-found national prominence achieves such status as did Stafford Congressman Rob Wittman, surprising no one with his landslide reelection to a fourth term.  But what will the RPV do?

Kay Coles James for RPV chairman: A visionary for the future of the party

Kay Coles James

By Lynn R. Mitchell

The announcement by Pat Mullins last week that he will step down as State Chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia (RPV) on January 31, 2015, has begun the usual flurry of telephone calls and email messages that range from “Who will run for RPV Chairman?” to outright requests for support for one candidate or another.

Before the RPV State Central Committee rushes to promote from within, Virginia Republicans should step back and make an honest assessment of whether to stick with the status quo, in which case promoting a current RPV leader to State Chairman is a no-brainer. Or, if the decision is that RPV needs the political equivalent of an injection of adrenalin, then a dynamic, articulate, and experienced conservative from outside of the status quo is needed.