Whether Jeb Bush will get a bump in the polls remains to be seen, but at least on Wednesday night, he got a chest bump from a new supporter.
Shane Blanchard, a city councilman in Waukee, Iowa, and a co-chair for Ted Cruz’s campaign in Dallas County, approached Bush after a town hall here to tell him that he has changed his mind. He’s now backing Bush.
Delighted with the news, Bush asked for a chest bump.
“I do that for every convert,” Bush later quipped to reporters.
Blanchard told CNN that he signed on with Cruz’s campaign three months ago, attracted to the Texas senator because of his views on social issues.
But after watching Tuesday night’s Fox Business debate, Blanchard said he felt like his views lined up more with Bush on issues like immigration and education. He said he also felt that Bush had a more accomplished record.
“I have nothing against (Cruz), I think he’s a great person,” he said. “I just haven’t seen him accomplish anything other than being against things. What has he actually brought forth?”
Blanchard was on a list of Iowa supporters that Cruz announced this fall.
Though Cruz may have one less supporter, he still has an advantage over Bush in the latest polling. According to a CNN/ORC survey, Cruz has the support of 11% of likely Republican caucus goers in the state, compared to Bush at 5%.
The Cruz campaign took the defection in stride.
“We have 14 other co chairs working in the county and weeks ago announced chairs in all 99 counties across the state,” a Cruz campaign aide who declined to be named said on Thursday. “Ted Cruz has a solid Iowa organization, if not the best, and is positioned to compete aggressively on caucus night.”