Conservative billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch will soon begin the process of vetting potential GOP presidential nominees and have added Jeb Bush to their list, despite what
Politico describes as "initial skepticism" about the former Florida governor within the Koch organization.
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz will be invited to the Kochs' summer conference, a top Koch aide said. And Bush will get a closer look because many Koch supporters think he could win the nomination, according to Politico.
The report comes just one day after
The New York Times reported comments by David Koch that appeared to endorse Walker, saying at a fundraising event, "When the primaries are over and Scott Walker gets the nomination…"
Koch insiders, in
a statement sent to Newsmax on Tuesday, said that the brothers have not yet endorsed a candidate.
"While I think Governor Walker is terrific, let me be clear, I am not endorsing or supporting any candidate for President at this point in time." David Koch said.
"It's really early, and a lot is going to happen," the Koch aide
told Politico. "We wouldn't want to take options off the table by getting behind one of them now."
If the Kochs choose a candidate in the primary it would be a first that they entered a campaign at that stage having previously questioned the value of wading into a primary.
But 2012 Republican nominee Mitt Romney failed to excite their donors, suggesting that they may be inclined to get involved earlier this time, Politico said.
The Kochs and their advisers will be looking for a candidate who is "solid on economic-freedom issues," is "a passionate advocate for free markets," and has "a positive, optimistic, pro-freedom message," the aide told Politico.
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