The Hill: GOP Senators Dropping Bush for Rubio

Republican Senators are turning their hopes for the presidential nomination from former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush to one of their own: Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, The Hill reports. 

"Marco's in the driver's seat. There's a lot of disappointment in Bush's performance," a GOP senator who requested anonymity told The Hill.

That lawmaker said Bush could still climb back from his sinking poll numbers, but others disagreed, saying Bush's lackluster performance isn't likely to turn around.

A Rubio backer in the Senate said "it’s nearly unanimous" among GOP senators that Bush is down and Rubio is moving up.

Rubio has three fresh endorsements in the Senate, Cory Gardner of Colorado, Steve Daines of Montana and Jim Risch of Idaho. Bush as only two: Orrin Hatch of Utah and Dean Heller of Nevada.

One GOP senator who backed former President George H.W. Bush said Jeb "is in big trouble" because "He's cross-ways with the Republican base. They see him as the epitome of a bought and paid-for establishment candidate."

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