What a week for Jeb Bush

Who knew former Gov. Jeb Bush (R-Fla.) was not only ready to run for president (I wrongly predicted last month he would rather swallow glass than run, the way he had talked about it), but would be so prepared? This week was the Jeb “shock and awe” launch. His initial preparations, like quitting all his corporate boards and announcing an exploratory committee, were pretty convincing. But before anyone else has done the same, Bush has now gone even further, much sooner than expected. As a result, it has jolted the race, despite expectations he would eventually enter it.

{mosads}First came his super-PAC, “Right to Rise,” a name Bush borrowed with permission from Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), and then he pledged to release a decade of personal tax returns, putting someone named Hillary Clinton in a sticky position, should she choose to run for her party’s nomination and ultimately campaign against Bush in the general election. Recall how uncomfortable that made 2012 GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney, for example.

Bush has also dissed Clinton as someone from the past: “If someone wants to run a campaign about ’90s nostalgia, its not going to be very successful.” Bush even attempted a nuanced response to a gay marriage ruling in the Florida courts by saying the rule of law should be respected and “I hope that we can all show respect for the good people on all sides of the gay and lesbian marriage issue — including couples making lifetime commitments to each other who are seeking greater legal protections and those of us who believe marriage is a sacrament and want to safeguard religious liberty.”

Leaked plans to raise $100 million in his first quarter fundraising makes it more official than any candidate on either side.

It truly was quite a week for Bush. And it has given Clinton, any other Democrat who dares to challenge her, and the other nearly 30 possible presidential contenders in the GOP a lot to think about.

IS GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE (R-N.J.) STILL IN THE GAME? SHOULD HE RUN FOR PRESIDENT? AskAB returns Tuesday, Jan. 13. Please join my weekly video Q&A by sending your questions and comments to askab@digital-staging.thehill.com. Thank you and Happy New Year!