Jeb Bush is just days away from formally launching his presidential campaign and already a shake-up is underway.
In a surprise move Monday, Bush tapped Republican strategist Danny Diaz to serve as his campaign manager, shoving aside another aide, David Kochel, to head his still-unofficial presidential operation.
Diaz’s promotion is a frank acknowledgment that Bush’s six-month “exploratory phase” has not met expectations and that the former Florida governor needed a new consultant to take the reins ahead of his campaign kickoff in Miami on Monday.
Bush has raised more than $100 million since announcing his presidential interest in December, but he has sunk in opinion polls as the GOP field has grown with credible challengers. Bush has been dogged by deep skepticism within the GOP base about his trustworthiness and viability, and he has struggled to differentiate himself from his brother and father, both former presidents.