In recent days, Bush and his team have been insisting to top supporters that he will be going on – regardless of what happens on Saturday. The former governor spent part of the week reaching out to top donors and asking them for fundraising help, in some cases asking for donations of up to six figures. In those conversations, sources briefed on the talks said, Bush said that he planned to compete in the Nevada caucuses on Tuesday.
Bush’s top advisers have been calling top Republican operatives in Washington to brief them on their standing – and to reiterate that the former governor will push on to Nevada. On Friday, his team released a travel schedule that included Nevada stops on Sunday and Monday.
If Bush bows out, a large and wealthy set of establishment-minded donors will be free to throw their support elsewhere. The former governor has tapped into his family’s loyal political network to amass over $120 million in contributions, and many Republicans say they think Rubio would be able to secure the backing of most of those donors, many of whom are eager for the party to unite behind a single contender to combat Trump and Cruz.
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