Trump camp touts support of Bush alumni before first debate

Donald Trump’s campaign on Monday released a list of more than 50 former Bush administration officials or campaign alumni who are backing his White House bid.

Several of those on the list have already indicated their support for Trump, whose campaign touted their names in an effort to gin up enthusiasm among Republicans ahead of his first debate against Hillary Clinton on Monday night.

{mosads}Among those on the list are former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer, former Attorney General John Ashcroft, former Labor Secretary Elaine Chao and former Treasury Secretary John Snow.

Others include former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, former Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson and former Bush political director Matt Schlapp, now the chairman of the American Conservative Union.

The names on the full list are part of Trump’s newly launched “Bush alumni coalition.”

While some former Bush administration officials have announced their support of Trump, members of the Bush family themselves have shied away from the controversial businessman.

Former President George H.W. Bush faced backlash from the Trump campaign earlier this month after a report said he planned to vote for Clinton in November.

A number of former Bush administration officials have also endorsed Clinton, including George H.W. Bush national security adviser Brent Scowcroft and George W. Bush deputy secretary of State Richard Armitage.

The younger Bush, meanwhile, has largely avoided commenting on Trump while raising money for other Republicans this year. His brother, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who ran unsuccessfully for the GOP nomination, has said he won’t vote for Trump or Clinton in November.