COLUMBIA, Feb 21: Jeb Bush today dropped out of the Republican presidential race after a series of dismal performances in primaries and a sluggish campaign, as the Bush family’s dream of an unprecedented third stint at the White House was shattered.
An introvert but articulate Jeb, with no dearth of money and support base of establishment across the nation, was hoping to follow the footsteps of his father George H W Bush and his elder brother George W Bush.
George H W Bush, now 91, was the 41st president of the United States from 1989 to 1993. His son George W Bush was elected as the two-term 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009.
63-year-old John Ellis “Jeb” Bush was hoping to become the 45th president of the US when he announced his candidature last year.
After three consecutive abysmal performances in Iowa, New Hampshire and finally in South Carolina, the third presidential aspirant from the Bush family announced to suspend his campaign.
“The people of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina have spoken. I respect their decision. So, tonight, I am suspending my campaign,” a visibly disappointed Jeb said as he took the podium in Columbia, South Carolina, after it became clear that he has received less than eight per cent of the votes.
“I congratulate my competitors, that are remaining on the island, on their success in a race that has been hard-fought, just as the contest for the presidency should be because it is a tough job,” Jeb said.
In Iowa caucus on February 1, which kicked off the 2016 presidential cycle, Jeb was placed sixth with an abysmally low 2.8 per cent votes.
But Jeb, who had been polling low at the national level, saw a glimmer of hope in the New Hampshire primary where he came fourth and his votes crossed the double digit mark with 11 per cent.
The New Hampshire primary was won by controversial Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump who received the support of 35.3 per cent of the votes followed by John Kasich (15.8) and Ted Cruz (11.7 per cent).
Hoping that South Carolina would give him the much needed momentum, Jeb even roped his elder brother and former president George, who made his first public political campaign rally after leaving White House on January 20, 2009.
While the election rally by 69-year-old George was well attended and generated a lot of excitement, it was not enough to give the much need push to his campaign. (PTI)
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