JEB BUSH, 2016 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE

Republican Nomination Odds:  N/A
30-day Trend:  N/A

Usually, having a pedigree is a good thing. Thoroughbreds whose family lines are dotted with champions bring top dollar from speculators wanting to own the next Kentucky Derby winner. Many times in business and culture, being related to an established authority opens doors otherwise unavailable to aspiring actors, lawyers, or socialites.

It can be a good thing in politics as well. Having a political pedigree can give candidates a leg up in election campaigns at all levels – just ask Lincoln Chafee, Rand Paul and George W. Bush. But at some point, pedigree becomes synonymous with dynasty, and the advantage dissipates. Such is the case for Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush. Unlike his aforementioned brother, Jeb has not one but two former presidents among his family of origin. In presidential politics, one presidential relative is good; two, not so much.

Electoral outlook:  The Bush name is perhaps his biggest obstacle to overcome in the race for the White House, but it isn’t necessarily his biggest hurdle in his quest for the Republican nomination. More than any other candidate, Jeb Bush represents the establishment of the Republican Party. In this anti-establishment climate, that can be a presidential campaign’s fatal flaw.