White House hopefuls scramble for GOP endorsements from lawmakers

HERSHEY, Pa. — The 2016 GOP primaries don’t start for another year, but potential presidential candidates are already furiously working to lock up support from lawmakers from early- and key-primary states.

Jeb Bush is chatting up members of his home state Florida congressional delegation. Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina is making personal visits to early primary state lawmakers. And New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is wooing would-be supporters.

Winning endorsements from popular politicians — and their spouses — in places like Iowa, New Hampshire South Carolina and Florida is crucial to getting a leg up on the competition — particularly with a crowded field.

And the prospective GOP contenders aren’t taking any chances.

Rep. Frank Guinta (R-N.H.) recounted how Fiorina dropped by his swearing-in dinner celebration last week at Carmine’s Italian restaurant and talked to him and his wife, Morgan, about her possible run. Guinta has already sat down and spoken with other potential candidates, and Christie will huddle with Guinta and other House Republicans in Washington next week.

As the congressman arrived at the GOP retreat on Wednesday, Guinta’s wife was attending a rally with Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) in Manchester, where Guinta served as mayor.

“We have a history in New Hampshire where we try to meet all the candidates. I’ve talked to a number of candidates. When candidates seek my advice about New Hampshire, I’ll certainly give my advice,” Guinta told The Hill. “But like everyone else, I want to kick the tires.”

Several likely 2016 presidential contenders were nowhere to be seen at the first bicameral Republican retreat in a decade, held Thursday in Hershey.  

Paul skipped out and instead crisscrossed the country to meet supporters in New Hampshire and Nevada. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) was in Alabama giving speeches and selling his new book: “American Dreams.”  Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) was here but kept a low profile.

But in this chocolate-obsessed city, chatter among members about 2016 was almost unavoidable.

Florida Republicans said Bush, the Sunshine State’s former governor, has already been making calls to members of their delegation to shore up support. Bush in recent weeks called Veterans Affairs Chairman Jeff Miller and Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart as he began to take steps toward a run.

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, another Florida Republican, was having lunch with GOP strategist Ana Navarro when she heard Bush was making calls, sources said. The congresswoman then joked to Navarro: “Jeb called Jeff and Jeb called Mario, but he didn’t call me.”

Navarro fired off an email to Bush, saying: “You don’t want to piss off any Hispanic woman.”

Soon after, Ros-Lehtinen’s phone rang. It was Jeb, asking for her support.

Ros-Lehtinen, the longtime Cuban American lawmaker from Miami’s Little Havana, replied that she was backing both Bush and Rubio, surmising that “in the end only one will run.”

“I’m all in for Jeb Bush. I just don’t think we’ve had a more prepared — a more ready and prepared, knowledgeable candidate if he actually goes through with it,” said Diaz-Balart, another influential Cuban American from Florida. “Jeb Bush is a friend. Jeb doesn’t have to contact me. I just think that this country. I think Jeb Bush in the White House would finally get the economy going.”

Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) said either he or his wife has “had contact almost with everyone” looking at 2016 presidential bids. His wife, Roxanne, met with Christie two days ago in Columbia for the swearing in of South Carolina GOP Gov. Nikki Haley and other officials.

He recently met with Paul and has had good meetings in the past with former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who’s eyeing another run in 2016.

“I’m in a telephone tag with Gov. Bush,” Wilson told The Hill. “We’ve been trying to get together this week and being here [in Hershey] it’s just been tough to coordinate.”

“The most important one,” his home state Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), “has been in touch with me,” he added.

Wilson said he is leaning toward supporting Graham, whom he said is serious about running for president.

“He’s doing what he should do. He’s actually going to the primary states. They come to mind: Iowa, New Hampshire, and obviously he has a strong base in South Carolina. I know he’s working on financial commitments,” he added. “I have been a supporter of his in the past and will continue to be.”

Wilson said 2012 nominee Mitt Romney, who surprised the political world last week by saying he’s mulling another run, has not been in touch.

Rep. Mike McCaul (R-Texas) said Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) has reached to him about a potential presidential campaign but said “it’s way too early” for him to talk about backing a candidate.

“Yeah, I think he’s going to run,” he said of Perry.

Another Texas Republican, Rep. Jeb Hensarling, said he was disappointed one of his “favorites,” Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), decided against a run.

But the Financial Services chairman said he’s a big fan of his former House colleague, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence.

“There are lots of good people, I’m excited about the field,” Hensarling said.

Even some freshmen are getting calls. Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-Fla.), who is giving the Spanish GOP response to President Obama’s State of the Union address, said aides to both Romney and Bush had reached out to him in recent days. 

Both presidential hopefuls had endorsed Curbelo in his GOP primary and raised cash for him down in south Florida. Rubio called to congratulate Curbelo on Election Night.

“There’s been no direct ask, but there’s been an approachment,” Curbelo said in an interview. “It’s nice to get calls and to get visits.”