Jeb again leads Rubio in latest Florida poll

By Lynn R. Mitchell

There is more good news for the Jeb Bush camp today as the latest poll in his home state shows he has a commanding lead over fellow Floridian Marco Rubio (see Florida poll: Jeb Bush takes big lead over Marco Rubio by Marc Caputo in Politico):

Jeb Bush holds a commanding lead over Sen. Marco Rubio among registered Florida Republicans, who have soured on the senator since he announced his presidential bid in April, a new poll shows.

In the crowded GOP field, Bush leads the second-place Rubio 28 to 16 percent in their home state, according to Mason Dixon Polling & Research’s survey. In Mason-Dixon’s poll three months ago, Rubio was essentially tied with Bush 31 to 30 percent.

Jeb staffs up for presidential run

By Lynn R. Mitchell

As former Florida Governor Jeb Bush continues to lay the groundwork for a 2016 presidential run, experienced staff are being added, according to political reporter Marc Caputo at the Miami Herald (see Jeb Bush staffs up for presidential campaign, hires Mitt Romney advisor):

From Florida’s capital to early voting Iowa, Jeb Bush dramatically beefed up his political committee this week making it the largest GOP presidential campaign-in-waiting.

Bush’s Right to Rise PAC officially hired Iowa strategist David Kochel and opened its Tallahassee headquarters where at least eight staffers are based.
…
Kochel would slide into the role of national campaign manager should Bush formally enter the race — and it’s inconceivable at this point he will pull back. He gives Bush someone with presidential experience but is far from the Washington, D.C., bubble.

Caputo adds that the national Jeb Bush campaign headquarters is setting up in Tallahassee for a reason: