As there is much debate over the conservative credentials of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, a University of Northern Florida political science professor tells
Newsmax TV that Bush governed like a conservative.
Since leaving his post as Florida's governor in 2007, Dr. Matthew Corrigan tells "America's Forum" hosts J.D. Hayworth and Miranda Khan Tuesday that Bush has "changed a lot in tone. I'm not so sure in policy.
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"Immigration has always been an issue with him. He's from Miami, which is a very immigrant-friendly city, his wife is a Mexican-American," he explained.
"He has a lot of personal experience with that issue, and that's why he's probably a little bit different than some of the other Republican presidential candidates," he said.
The professor is the author of a book about Bush,
"Conservative Hurricane: How Jeb Bush Remade Florida," which was released in October.
"He had a conservative record here as governor," Corrigan said. "He's going to have to talk about that more because . . . the base is really looking for a strong conservative voice.
"I don't think Jeb Bush is going to win over that room, but there is space within the Republican Party for a center right candidate with a conservative past," he said.
"And what he's doing now is really talking in more moderate tones," he added.