Jeb's son George seeks Texas office
ABILENE, Texas — He’s a former two-term governor of Florida and possible candidate for president in 2016, but at this moment, Jeb Bush is just a proud dad. And it’s all a bit overwhelming.
“Here I am with this incredible candidate,” Bush says, his voice cracking. He tries to continue, then stops to wipe tears from his eyes and clear his throat. His son, George P. Bush, candidate for Texas Land Commissioner, beams and pats him on the shoulder.
“I don’t know why it is that one generation of Bush after another has to run for office,” Jeb Bush, having recovered a little bit, finally said Tuesday afternoon while back on the campaign stump. “But apparently nothing’s changed.”
George P. Bush is expected to sail to victory next month and take over a little-known but powerful office that’s historically served as a steppingstone to a higher level of Texas politics.
The 37-year-old Fort Worth attorney and investment manager didn’t really need to import his famous father for a campaign swing through West Texas.
But Dad was along for the ride all the same.
“He’s worked harder than any candidate probably running for office in Texas, so he could do it on his own, but he was kind enough to let the old guy show up,” Jeb Bush said in an interview with The Associated Press.
Should George P. Bush win, as expected, against former El Paso Mayor John Cook, he’d become the first member of the Bush family to prevail in his first election.
His grandfather, George H.W. Bush, and his uncle, George W. Bush, both lost early campaigns before winning the White House, and his father won the Florida governorship on his second try.
Even his great-grandfather, family patriarch and long-serving Connecticut Sen. Prescott Bush, lost his inaugural race.
Father and son began the day in Fort Worth and stopped in Abilene for an event at Hardin-Simmons University, where Jeb choked up. Things ended in Midland at a night campaign rally and concert.
But the pair also found time to tour the home where Jeb lived until age 6.
