Back to 2010’s election cycle when the NH Senatorial race was running – the Big Dog from the $$ perspective was “hundreds millionaire” Mr. Binnie. If I remember right, he spent the equivalent about $450/vote in the Primary – and didn’t even come close (Note to Bernie Sanders: pay attention that money sometimes doesn’t make a difference). But man, Bill must be thanking himself for his own restraint.
Jeb!, not so much:
Jeb Bush spent about $25,000 for every vote he got in Iowa. He outspent everyone just to stay barely competitive. He came in sixth place, behind Rand Paul (who may or may not be wondering whether risking his own Senate seat is worth it at this point), which is a frankly embarrassing finish for someone who spent so much.
For a lousy 3% of the vote last night; a horrible return on investment on time, effort, and money. My prediction, as his donor’s political crack money supply is drying up faster than California was before El Nino, NH may be his last stand. If he’s not substantially above that, and not placing in the top 3, he’s toast. While he could slink onward to South Carolina, I bet he’s got to be looking in that mirror and going “what the heck has happened”? Will he continue to the bitter end (re: no money at all) or take the more honorable and more honest route and finally admit “This is not my time”.
He can’t fix America if he can’t fix his own campaign – and at this time, that campaign tire is all but flat. Yes, we play the game because NOTHING is ever certainly but boy, I think his opening campaign statement of “lose the primary to win the primary” is going to end the way that most of us disbelievingly thought would happen: “lose the primary”. Period. Right from the get-go, I just could not understand that philosophy – apparently, this is going to be a learning lesson two ways.
The first is that starting off with that as your guiding light is a non-starter; you can’t win anything when you thinking losing is an option. Life (and campaigns) doesn’t work that way. At least successful ones.
The second is that Mike Murphy, his campaign manager and perpetual Republican operative, has learned that, once again, it is easy to fleece willing marks. Never fear, Jeb! will lose but Murphy’s bank accounts will not.
And no, no relationship either by blood (that I know of) or by temperament / morality.
