Report: Talk Radio Expected To Influence Primaries

Laura Ingraham

Jeb Bush is one of the leading 2016 possibilities among the GOP establishment, but, according to The Washington Post, he has an enduring problem among conservatives -- especially Laura Ingraham and other influential talk radio hosts.

Since his announcement in December that he would “actively explore” a White House run, conservative radio hosts have unleashed a torrent of criticism aimed squarely at Bush, whom they portray as an entitled, dynastic RINO (“Republican in name only”) out of step with the GOP base. That deep-seated disdain is bad news for Bush, who is already slated to navigate a competitive and crowded primary full of candidates eager to run to his right.

Hosts like Ingraham and Rush Limbaugh have great sway over many of the voters who show up to GOP primary elections, even if conservative talk radio itself has taken a ratings plunge in recent years.

“There is no doubt that talk radio will have an influence on primaries as they roll through the calendar," said GOP strategist Bill Cortese. "Everyone is trying to be a kingmaker."

Rush Limbaugh

And many of them really hate Jeb.

The vitriol isn't entirely unexpected. Bush is a center-right candidate and a favorite of the Republican establishment, which puts him immediately at odds with many on the right of his party. But the level of negative attention he's receiving on talk radio so early in the race has outweighed criticism of his potential competitors. That includes Chris Christie, who has also been occasionally accused of being too moderate.

The two issues that most animate the far-right's disdain for Bush are immigration reform and the Common Core education standards, both of which Bush has said he supports.

"Every talk radio host in the country has either immigration or Common Core as the issue that fires them up," said GOP strategist Matt Mackowiak. "He is the national voice for both."

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