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 A former Florida governor, Bush, 62, is hoping for a better result
in New Hampshire, the state which on Tuesday will hold the country's
second nominating contest for the Nov. 8 election to succeed
President Barack Obama.
U.S. Senator Rubio, 44, also of Florida, emerged as the leading
moderate, establishment Republican candidate in Iowa, behind U.S.
Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, 45, and billionaire businessman Donald
Trump, 69.
Senior campaign officials for Bush have been seeking to reassure
donors that the one-time front-runner has a path forward after his
dismal Iowa showing, three Bush donors told Reuters.
 They said senior aides to Bush held conference calls for donors on
Tuesday to reassure them, offering an upbeat message about Bush’s
finances and ground game in New Hampshire and a determination to
press on.
Rubio began the year with more than $10 million in cash on hand, his
campaign reported on Sunday. Bush reported cash on hand as of Sunday
of $7.6 million.
Bush, campaigning later this week in New Hampshire with his mother,
former first lady Barbara Bush, has benefited from the intense
loyalty donors have shown his father and brother, former presidents
George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush.
The donors said there was no indication Bush would shy away from
contrasting himself with either Rubio or Cruz.
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“People who are for Jeb are for Jeb,” one donor said.
On the campaign trail this week Bush has questioned the abilities of
freshman U.S. senators - both Rubio and Cruz are first-term senators
- by saying they lacked his proven record.
(Reporting by Steve Holland; Editing by Howard Goller)
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