Jeb Bush Says By End Of Year He'll Decide On White House Bid
April 6, 2014 - Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush said in interview released Sunday that he will decide by the end of the year whether or not to run for the White House in 2016.
On the controversial issue of illegal immigration Bush said that "It's an act of love. It's an act of commitment to your family. I honestly think that that is a different kind of crime. There should be a price paid, but it shouldn't rile people up that people are actually coming to this country to provide for their families."
A potential White House bid has been helped in recent months by the trouble New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has found himself in over the Bridgegate scandal.
Christie who at one time was leading some presidential polls now finds himself mired in the bottom third tier of potential GOP White House hopefuls.
As Christie and Bush would appeal to the same type of more moderate Republican voter, if Christie can not make a run in 2016 that would be a plus for Bush.
Should Bush win the presidency in 2016 , he would be the third member of his family to do so. Bush's father was the 41st President of the United States and his brother was the 43rd President.
2016 GOP Hopefuls Speak at Las Vegas
March 30, 2014 - Several 2016 GOP White House hopefuls spoke yesterday at the Republican Jewish Coalition in Las Vegas , Nevada.
Governor John Kasich of Ohio, Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin, and Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey addressed the gathering.
For Christie is was an effort to move on from the Bridgegate scandal that has overshadowed his possible 2016 presidential bid since it erupted in January of this year.
An internal report commissioned by the Christie Administration, released last week cleared Governor Christie of any involvement in the lane closures at the George Washington Bridge in September of 2013. The report placed the blame for the closures on Christie then Deputy Chief of Staff Bridget Ann Kelley and Christie appointee to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey David Wildstein.
While Christie feels exonerated by the report, an investigation is still under way by a New Jersey legislative committee and the United States Attorney of New Jersey's Office.
Rand Paul Leads GOP Presidential Field
March 17, 2014 - In the latest presidential poll of potential 2016 Republican White House contenders ,
Senator Rand Paul of Texas leads the field with 16%.
Up next at 15% is 2012 Republican nominee for vice president and Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan.
Texas Governor Rick Perry is in third place with 11%. Former Governor Mike Huckabee is in 4th place with 10% of the vote.
Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, who has a father and brother who were both President of The United States, is next at 9%.
One GOP frontrunner New Jersey Governor Chris Christie now finds himself tied with Senator Ted Cruz
of Texas with just 8%.
The remainder of Republican White House hopefuls are Senator Marco Rubio of Texas with 5% followed by 2012 presidential participant former Senator Rich Santorum of Pennsylvania with 3%.
On the Democratic side, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton continues to dominate the field with 63% followed by Vice President Joe Biden with 13%.
Rand Paul Wins CPAC Straw Paul
March 9, 2014 - Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky easily won the 2016 straw poll at the CPAC conference with an impressive 31% of the vote.
Coming in far behind Paul with just 11% was Tea Party favorite Senator Ted Cruz of Texas.
Doctor Bed Carson was next with 9% of the vote , in 4th place with just 8% of the vote was one time GOP front runner New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.
Clinton Leads Ryan By Just 8 Points in Latest Presidential Poll
February 12, 2013 - Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton leads all potential 2016 GOP challengers in latest poll, but Congressman Raul Ryan of Wisconsin is only 8 points behind.
Ryan , the 2012 Republican Party Vice Presidential nominee, polls best in a hypothetical race with Hillary Clinton for 2016. Clinton receives 52% followed by Ryan with 44%.
The next closest Republican Presidential Hopeful in a race with Clinton, is former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee. Clinton leads Huckabee, who ran in the 2008 Republican Primaries against eventual nominee Senator John McCain, 55% to 41%.
Other potential 2016 races are as follows, Clinton 56% Senator Ted Cruz of Texas with 39%, Clinton 58% Senator Rand Paul of Texas 38% and Clinton 58% former Florida Governor Jeb Bush 38%.
Most starling for the Republicans was how far New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has fallen in the polls.
After his landslide re-election victor last November, Christie was either tied or slightly leading Clinton in head to head match up. Christie now trails Clinton by a staggering 21 points. This drop in the polls matches other recent surveys taking in the wake of the Christie Bridgegate scandal.
This weeks details from a diary by long time Hillary Clinton confident Diane Blair were made public. Making headlines was an entry in the diary where Blair said that Mrs. Clinton described Monica Lewinsky, a White House intern who had an affair with President Bill Clinton, as a “narcissistic loony toon.”
What impact this and other revelations will have on Hillary Clinton's standing in the polls are yet to be determined.