Politico
By Alex Isenstadt
July 16, 2015
Since
announcing his presidential bid last month, Donald Trump has thrown
haymakers at a variety of candidates, but he’s gone after Jeb Bush with
particular zeal. He has
called the former Florida governor a “total disaster,” has asked “How
the hell can you vote for this guy?” and has even gone after Bush’s
Mexican-born wife on Twitter.
Now,
those close to his campaign say, Bush, who has taken on the mantle of
frontrunner, is bracing for the possibility of a presidential debate
pile-on — with Trump leading
the charge.
Gaming
out how Trump — a bombastic figure who refuses to abide by usual the
rules of political decorum — will present himself has become a growing
subject of speculation
in Bush’s world. During one recent phone call with a political ally,
Bush pointedly asked about the surging real estate mogul. What, the
friend recalled the former governor wondering out loud, was behind
Trump’s antics, and what was he trying to accomplish?
“Trump
presents a challenge for Bush because he’s a hand grenade,” said Nelson
Warfield, a longtime Republican strategist who has prepared a number of
candidates for debates.
“His people understand that and will be prepared for anything that
comes their way.”
As
the Aug. 6 debate grows closer, some Republicans are relishing the
prospect of Trump tearing the bark off the former governor — or, at the
very least, trying to trip
him up. “Trump has one target and one target only,” said an adviser to a
rival GOP candidate. “He’s going to bring a lawn mower for Bush.”
In
recent months, Bush has immersed himself in planning for the debate,
holding mock sessions with advisers. Last week, after huddling with top
donors at the family compound
in Kennebunkport, Maine, the former governor spent his time in debate
study, according to two people who’d been in touch with him. By the end
of the process, said another source, Bush could end up spending as much
as 50 hours in preparation, an amount that
far surpasses what Mitt Romney had done at this point during the last
Republican primary.
“I’ve
been impressed by how hard Jeb has been and is working. He takes all
the aspects of running seriously and has spent considerable time in
learning and practicing
to make himself a better candidate,” said Ana Navarro, a longtime Bush
friend. “Jeb’s always been a hard worker and serious guy, but he is
going about with an unwavering commitment and humility, and more
surprisingly, patience, I’d say.”
Bush
has also taken on two former Romney advisers, Beth Myers and Peter
Flaherty, to help him prepare. In recent weeks, the two have outlined
Romney’s experiences during
the 2012 debates, when the former Massachusetts governor sometimes
appeared stiff and struggled early on to handle attacks from his
conservative rivals. Bush is also heavily relying on advice from two of
his top campaign architects, Sally Bradshaw and Trent
Wisecup.
If
Trump is a danger for Bush, some close to the former governor say, he
also presents opportunity. The debate will give Bush a national platform
to take on Trump in strong
terms, presenting himself as a mature, substantive leader who rises
above toxic discourse. Bush may have hinted at that approach during a
campaign stop in Iowa on Tuesday. “Whether it’s Donald Trump or Barack
Obama, their rhetoric of divisiveness is wrong,”
the former governor said. “A Republican will never win by striking fear
in people’s hearts.”
But
the format of the debate, with just a few minutes for each candidate,
hardly guarantees a Sister Souljah moment — nor will Trump necessarily
prove an easy foil.
“It
all depends on how far Trump is willing to take this,” said Warfield.
“If he comes after Bush, and Bush defends himself forcefully, it could
be a positive thing.”
Yet
how Trump will approach the debate remains an unanswered question.
Michael Cohen, his spokesman, wouldn’t comment on what the strategy
would be. Tim Miller, a spokesman
for Bush’s campaign, declined to comment other than to say that the
debates will showcase “his conservative record of accomplishment.”
Trump isn’t Bush’s only cause for concern.
There’s
the rust factor. As someone who last ran for office in 2002, his
supporters point out, Bush hasn’t been on a debate stage in years — a
problem that many of Bush’s
rivals, some of whom are current officeholders, don’t have to worry
about. The decision to bring on Myers and Flaherty, who played key roles
in overseeing Romney’s 2012 debate preparation, was partly made for
that reason, one source familiar with the hire
said.
And
then there’s the fact that besides Trump, at least eight other
Republicans will be seeking to exploit Bush’s vulnerabilities with
conservative voters, from his family
name to his positions on issues like Common Core and immigration.
Behind the scenes, each has been working vigorously to prepare for the
crucial first debate.
Kentucky
Sen. Rand Paul, for instance, has been holding regular “murder board”
sessions with a handful of his top advisers at his Capitol Hill campaign
headquarters.
South
Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, who may not qualify for the debate
because he lags in polling, has been consulting with Brett O’Donnell, a
former Liberty University
debate coach who was credited with helping to turn around Mitt Romney’s
performances. Graham has held about a handful of debate practice
sessions in the last month.
Wisconsin
Gov. Scott Walker, who some have criticized for lacking policy chops,
has been consulting with a team that, according to one source, includes
Mari Will, the
wife of conservative columnist George Will.
But it’s the Bush-Trump battle that many will be tuning in to watch.
“He’s
gone against Trump, so he’s exposed himself,” said former Rep. Tom
Davis, a Virginia Republican. “To that extent, he’s set himself up for a
one-on-one with him.”
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