Jeb Bush: ‘I don’t see any coronation coming my way’

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush on Friday sought to allay the concerns of Republicans who argue he’s not conservative enough and lacks appeal outside of establishment GOP circles.

In the question-and-answer session following his stump speech at the New Hampshire Republican Party’s leadership summit, a woman told Bush that she and others are concerned that the GOP nominating process will be a “coronation” because “it seems a little bit like the establishment is backing you as a candidate.”

“I don’t see any coronation coming my way, trust me,” Bush responded.

{mosads}“I will have to earn it if I get into the arena,” he continued. “I will have to earn it. Nobody is going to give it to me. That is more than apparent.

I’ll share my heart. I’ll share my ideas to help people move up, and I’ll share my record because that is the leading indicator in terms of what I can do in the future in terms of leadership,” said Bush.

The woman went on to tell Bush she was worried he’s a “Republican In Name Only” – or R.I.N.O. – an insult conservatives use against those who they believe are too moderate.

“I hope you absorb [my] record, it’s a conservative record,” Bush countered. “It’s not a Republican In Name Only Record.

“The funny thing is that in Florida, those that are on the left are really upset that people are calling me something I’m not,” he continued. “It’s kind of amusing  – the liberals in Florida are angry that people don’t see me as a conservative outside of Florida.

“My record is a conservative one,” Bush said. “It’s an I’m-not-kidding conservative record, a record of accomplishment. I did it, and I didn’t [just] talk about it.”

Bush has been met with skepticism, and in certain cases, outright hostility from some on the right, who view the scion of the Bush family political dynasty as the latest vehicle for establishment Republicans seeking to squash insurgent candidates from the right.

The former Florida governor has sought to separate himself from his father, former President George H.W. Bush, and brother, former President George W. Bush.

In stump speeches, Bush frequently declares that he’s his own man, and reminds the audience that they too likely view themselves differently from family members with whom they’re associated.

Bush has also sought to highlight his conservative record on the campaign trail. He usually begins his speech ticking through the list of accomplishments from his time as Florida governor.

He has argued that he cut taxes, reformed the education system, reduced the size of the government workforce, created 1.3 million net new jobs, eliminated affirmative action, left the state with billions in a rainy day fund and reformed the education system to create a voucher program and expand school choice.