February 2, 2008 -- WHILE President Bush has maintained neutrality among contenders for the Republican presidential nomination, he privately expresses to friends his exasperation with Mitt Romney's hard-line stance on immigration.
Bush is upset that Romney changed his position on the issue, compared to what it had been when he was governor of Massachusetts, at the expense of the president's immigration reform.
Bush and Sen. John McCain are not close, but the president is grateful for McCain's support on Iraq and immigration.
A footnote: The president's younger brother, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, has not endorsed any presidential candidate. But he and his political allies were behind Romney's losing effort in last Tuesday's Florida primary.
FLORIDA Gov. Charlie Crist's unexpected late endorsement, which helped propel McCain to a momentous victory in the Florida primary, came as an unpleasant surprise to Republican leaders around the state.
Crist had passed the word to GOP regulars that he was not making an endorsement after he shunned former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani's courtship and suggested that they also stay neutral. His support for McCain irked Republican activists who generally would have preferred former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.
A footnote: While losing the state, Romney carried heavily Republican Collier and Lee counties in southwest Florida by substantial margins. That represents Republican voters whom McCain will have to win over if nominated."
The Jeb Bush factions were doing what they could with scant resources, as despite all we've heard about Romney's money, there was little of it apparent anywhere but southern Florida where they stupidly tried to win over the hispanics. The spanish speaking people know who THEIR candidate was going to be and Romney speaking tough on illegal immigration simply wasn't going to cut it. The monies would have been far better spent in persuading the fence sitters, so I do hope they've at least learned a lesson. There was also a minor pissing contest between the old administration and the new, as Jeb, believing that Crist was going to remain neutral, sent his minions to preach the Romney choir without first seeking permission from the Governors mansion.
Time and again, the McCain ads punched home his wishing to close the borders to the likes of Al Queda, leaving unsaid his previous desire to offer amnesty to existing illegal aliens of spanish descent. But they were calling him Poppi John, with a wink-wink, nudge-nudge. Sure, he'd go after the towelheads but leave them alone.
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