Bush’s answer was so quick and so definitive that it was overlooked, coming two-thirds of the way through a long, rambling Q & A with a friendly group put together by the Lancaster County, Penn. Chamber of Commerce.
The President: No.
Q: After saying you’re still having fun, I have even more respect for you.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you.
Q: But my question is a little bit lighter, I guess. Two things. One, are you able at this point to support any of the presidential candidates coming up?
THE PRESIDENT: No.
Q: All right. (Laughter.) Then my next question. I have recently watched the interviews with your daughters, and you have to be very proud of them.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. (Applause.)
Q: I’m proud of my daughter. My question is, would you rather see your daughters go into business or politics?
THE PRESIDENT: I’d rather them do whatever they want to do…
And that was that. Bush never backed up and explained why he doesn’t support any of his party’s candidates, or elaborated on the subject in any way.
We knew the Republican candidates were distancing themselves from Bush. We didn’t know the feeling was mutual.
It will be interesting to see if that changes after a nominee is selected. I find it very hard to imagine that Bush/Cheney will refrain from supporting the Republican. Surely they know that after they leave the White House, someone’s bound to trip over a body or two left behind by their administration. Surely they’d rather that someone be a Republican.
His answer also explains why the Bush cash machine hasn’t cranked up. The Rangers are so far hanging on to the millions they made available in the last two presidential cycles, leaving Republicans lagging.
Combined, the top three Democratic contenders — Clinton, Obama and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards — have raised nearly $190 million compared to the $121 million Romney, Giuliani and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., have raised.
Hahaha. He gotcha. You believed his answer.
Once a candidate is chosen Bush will throw his support at the person and probably hurt their chances of winning.
Bombshell? I’m no Bushophile, but it is ludicrous to characterize this statement as a bombshell or even news. It’s shcoking that the sitting President is not willing to support any of the Republican candidates “at this point.” That is nothing more than standard boilerplate, and having the good form to stay out of the fray until a new nominee is crowned. Try doing some real political reporting instead manufacturing news out of a non-answer.
I have to agree with the assessment made by Anonamooose. This hardly qualifies as a “bombshell” and is very mis-leading. The truth is that Bush is not supporting any candidates because he can’t name any of them.And that’s hardly news.