Jeb Bush to Skip GOP Convention

Even Tea Party conservatives are hesitant about leaving their posts for the convention.

CNN earlier reported that Bush flatly said “no” when asked, joining a list of other Republicans taking a pass on what is likely to be a wild convention.

“Unlikely”, GOP Sen. Kelly Ayotte said when asked if she’d be in Cleveland in the midst of her tough bid for a second term. Others don’t want to be tied too closely to a potentially messy presidential nomination fight.

Quietly, some officials in the highest rungs of Republican leadership are advising their rank-and-file members to stay away from Cleveland.

Trump poses a significant threat to the GOP’s hopes of hanging onto the majority in the Senate, where they already faced an uphill battle this election cycle. Richard Burr, R-North Carolina, who is weighing skipping the convention.

The rules have become a focus of the Republican contest as the GOP establishment tries to block front-runner Donald Trump from securing the 1,237 delegates needed to clinch the nomination, forcing multiple ballots in Cleveland for rivals Texas Sen.

And Republican Rep. Mick Mulvaney, who hails from SC and is one of the co-founders of the House Freedom Caucus, told CNN he’s not going either. He said activists and people should decide the nominee – not politicians.

Jeb Bush will not attend the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, his spokeswoman said Tuesday. “I’m going to stay home and work”.

“I think if you are in a competitive district that’s smart”, the aide said.