The question would be: What role does George W. Bush play? While President Bush is a nationally unpopular figure, he is still a force to be reckoned with when it comes to fundraising. Bush is planning to be deferential in his final days of his eight years in office.
This will not be Bush’s race to run as he cannot run for another term. Senator John McCain of Arizona had cemented his nomination of the GOP when his rival in the Republican race, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney had suspended his campaign.
As a result, Bush will be putting power behind McCain. McCain is an ally in which Bush has had a complicated relationship with. However, Bush did not indicate that he would break his silence on the 2008 presidential race.
Currently, the White House is waiting until a candidate clinches the nomination or comes out as the last man standing due to the other candidates dropping out.
A burst of activity from Bush could be considered as unlikely.
“There is kind of a reset button in which the nominee reintroduces himself to the public. And it’s going to be important for the president and the White House to let him do just that,” according to Bush’s former counselor, Dan Bartlett.
“The definitional period is so significant, and the president is such a big gun to associate yourself with,” Bartlett added. He continued with: “So I wouldn’t expect a big bear hug.”
Bush can still give out executive orders along with promoting policies that shines the Republican Party in a more positive light. He would be able to use Air Force One to raise massive amounts of funding for the GOP.
“They can put their thumb on the scale,” said John Podesta. He adds: “That doesn’t buy you 5 points in the polls, but if it’s a very tight race – a repeat of 2000 or 2004 – that can be a big difference.” Podesta was Bill Clinton’s chief of staff during the latter part of his two-term presidency.
However, no decision has been made on what tactics will be used by Bush. His role will be shaped by his own schedule. This year, Bush has seven more foreign trips.
Podesta, who is currently the president of the Center for American Progress explains that Bush’s best chance to help the GOP nominee could be by scoring a victory on foreign policy.
“If he can actually deliver and bring home a Middle East peace agreement, if he listens to certain voices at the Pentagon that say we need to keep the troop withdrawals going (from Iraq), those are the kinds of things that can make a difference,” Podesta explains.
While Bush’s approval rating is low, he is still popular among the GOP insiders. Those same insiders pay to get in a room with Bush.
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