With Jeb’s title and imaginary aura in place, his campaign strategy was to raise millions of dollars to build a huge national organization that by its very presence would weaken potential opponents by sucking up donors and media attention.

Then, with the organization in place, along with free and paid media support — Bush would rise in the polls and go on to win primaries, the nomination and ultimately the general election.

It all made so much sense on a spreadsheet!

But, in spring of this year, three months before Jeb officially entered the race, many Republicans, myself included, believed Jeb’s aura of inevitability was a fantasy built on false pretenses.