George P. Bush wins first election. Too soon to talk about White House 2024?
| Washington
George P. Bush has won his first election. The son of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and wife Columba Bush, George P. was elected Texas land commissioner in a landslide.
His father, his uncle George W. Bush, and grandfather George H. W. Bush all lost their initial forays into electoral politics. So did great-grandfather and former Sen. Prescott Bush. So P. (can we call him that?) already has bragging rights in his family.
Dad was properly proud.
Land commissioner is a substantial position in the Lone Star State. The Texas General Land Office manages state-controlled lands and mineral rights. It also controls the Alamo, which is state-owned, so there鈥檚 symbolism too. If P plays by the rules, shores up his right wing with continued shrewd moves 鈥� he was an early endorser of Ted Cruz for Senate 鈥� then he鈥檚 got a chance of rising fast in state politics.
As Karen Tumulty , many in Texas think it鈥檚 almost inevitable that he鈥檒l run for governor some day, quite likely against Julian Castro, former San Antonio mayor and current secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
And then ... OK, we鈥檝e been responsible enough, when is he going to run against Chelsea Clinton for the White House?
Hmm, let鈥檚 see, if Hillary Clinton wins in 2016, he could make a bid as early as 2020.... He might seem young, though, and it鈥檚 chancy to run against an incumbent. He鈥檇 be better off to wait until the next time it鈥檚 an open election, meaning 2024.
If some non-Bush Republican wins in two years, the same calculus holds. If his dad wins, it might take longer 鈥� somehow we don鈥檛 see voters electing a son to follow a father, presuming that dad wins a second term.
That would be fun if he tried it, though. It would be even more fun 鈥� we鈥檙e just dreaming here 鈥� if his opponent was Chelsea Clinton, out to avenge her mother鈥檚 defeat by P鈥檚 dad.
Or if he does wait, he could even run against ... we鈥檙e really just riffing here ... Hillary Clinton鈥檚 granddaughter!
Others are thinking along these same lines.
So really, we're just being sensible here.
