Split Among the Bush Brothers?

There has been a great deal of discussion about how various Florida Republican operatives have been dividing up between McCain, Romney, and Giuliani. Recently, the Hill postulated there was split among operatives linked to the Bush family, with those close to President Bush lining up behind McCain and those close to former Gov. Jeb Bush throwing their support Romney.

However, one spectator suggests the split does not represent division in the Bush family, but a Machiavellian strategy.

“Jeb Bush may be putting together the backup team,” said Ross K. Baker, a professor of political science at Rutgers University. “Should McCain falter and prove not very appetizing, they’ve designated his successor.”

Baker said Romney “represents the fallback position of the Bush White House without having the Washington Bush supporters withdraw their support of McCain.”

“It’s betting on two horses,” said Baker of the Bush family’s apparent hedging strategy. “It seems to me an effort to diversify their portfolio.”