According to the Washington Post, unamed but "influential" Republicans are coalescing around former Florida Governor Jeb Bush as their choice for GOP presidential nominee in 2016. Reading this story, you can't help but think that the effort to create a boomlet for Bush is patently artificial. Mention is made of Romney money men being interested in backing him, but there is no groundswell among Republicans nationwide for a Bush candidacy, and the base would revolt if he won the nomination . That isn't stopping a small group of Republican bundlers from floating a trial balloon in Las Vegas: Bush’s advisers insist that he is not actively exploring a candidacy and will not make a decision until at least the end of this year. But over the past few weeks, Bush has traveled the country delivering policy speeches, campaigning for Republicans ahead of the fall midterm elections, honing messages on income inequality and foreign policy, and cultivating ties...(Read Full Post)