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 "That's a low-energy picture," Bush, 62, chuckled after the portly
version was thrust into his hands in Salem, New Hampshire, site of a
town hall event. "This is a high-energy picture," he said of the
skinnier Jeb photo.
The anecdote encapsulates Bush's challenge as he prepares for
Wednesday's second debate of Republicans seeking their party's
presidential nomination: How to show more energy without losing his
calm, steady-at-the-helm demeanor, and give a needed boost to his
campaign after losing his front-runner status to billionaire
firebrand Donald Trump.
Initially stung when Trump, 69, pinned the "low-energy" label on
him, Bush is taking a two-prong approach, joking about it and
showing more fire on the campaign trail. He plans to take a more
aggressive tack at the debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential
Library in Simi Valley, California.
"If someone comes at me, bam! I'll come back at 'em," he said in
Salem, smacking a fist into a palm. "I'll campaign hard."
Bush has mocked Trump, branding him a Democrat in disguise with past
positions favoring higher taxes and past expressions of admiration
of Hillary Clinton, the front-runner for the Democratic presidential
nomination.
Republicans held their first debate in the race for the November
2016 presidential election in Cleveland on Aug. 6.
If a livelier Bush shows up at the second debate, it will be an
adjustment welcomed by many of his supporters, some of whom have
privately expressed concern that the former Florida governor, a
favorite of the Republican establishment, could be in trouble after
a dismal August. A Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll on Friday had Trump as the breakaway
leader with 26.9 percent. Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson was at
10.4 percent. Bush was at 7.3 percent. The poll had a credibility
interval of 3.8 percent.
ADVISERS URGE PATIENCE
Top Bush advisers have regularly reached out to the Bush donor class
to offer updates and reassurances about their candidate's position.
Their message: Be patient and don't panic.
Their belief is that the Trump storm will eventually blow over and
that Bush is well positioned, armed with policy ideas, a can-do
spirit and financial backing, to rise to the top.
His team so far has resisted pressure from some outside advisers to
make changes in his operation in response to his static position in
the opinion polls.
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There is plenty of time for Bush to make his case and TV advertising
is just now starting in earnest to promote Bush’s record, campaign
officials said.
“This is a long race. You have to go out and earn people’s votes,”
said a campaign aide.
Rather than spend money on advertising against Trump, the Bush plan
is to use TV ads to introduce the candidate and show voters his
record as a tax-cutting former governor with conservative street
cred.
Aides say he aims to address a longstanding concern that voters see
him as a possible third Bush president, not as a veteran politician
with his own identity.
"They're mindful that everybody knows that he is George Bush's son
and George W. Bush's brother but that people don't really know him,"
said a donor in touch with the Bush team.
While Bush officials assert that their man's thoughtful,
policy-dominated campaign will prove to be a strength, some
Republican voters would like to see more passion.
John Ruggerio, an undecided New Hampshire Republican, emerged from a
Bush event admiring Bush's command of the issues but said an added
element was needed.
"He's got to show a lot more pizzazz," Ruggerio said.
For more on the 2016 presidential race, see the Reuters blog, “Tales
from the Trail” (http://blogs.reuters.com/talesfromthetrail/)
(Reporting by Steve Holland; Editing by Howard Goller)
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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