Former House majority leader Eric Cantor, who lost his seat last year in a shocking primary upset, has returned to the world of national politics by endorsing Jeb Bush for president. Cantor made the announcement on Twitter hours before introducing Bush at a fund-raiser in Richmond on Thursday night. Cantor will also appear with Bush on Friday at a town hall on veterans issues, and going forward he will serve as a Virginia state co-chair of the Bush campaign.
“Governor Bush is a true conservative leader with a long-term vision for this country and the practical know-how to implement it,” Cantor said in a statement. “After eight years of anemic growth and declining international relevance, America needs a president that can re-energize our nation and recapture our greatness — Jeb Bush is that man. I look forward to working closely with the governor and his team as they chart a course to the White House.”
Bush already has more endorsements than any other GOP presidential candidate, and Cantor is expected to serve as a top surrogate to Jewish voters. According to Time, Cantor was wooed by Scott Walker, Marco Rubio, and Chris Christie before he settled on Bush. “They pursued him for months and months,” said a source. “He still has a whole lot of friends in Congress and other prominent folks across the country in the party and the finance and fundraising communities.”
But some of Bush’s GOP rivals weren’t that disappointed:
