KRT Wire | 12/03/2004 | Bush’s 2nd-term agenda: Set Jeb up BY ZEV CHAFETS

[L]ast week, in a meeting with The Washington Times editorial board, Ken Mehlman, the new chairman of the Republican National Committee, put Jeb back in the race.

Responding to a question, Mehlman mentioned eight potential candidates for 2008: Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, Virginia Sen. George Allen, Colorado Gov. Bill Owens, Arizona Sen. John McCain, Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, George Pataki, Rudy Giuliani – and Jeb Bush. …

Four years is a long way off. But if Jeb does run, he has a real shot at the nomination. Pataki and Giuliani may be too liberal on “values” issues to win red-state primaries. Romney’s from Massachusetts. Owens and Allen are unknowns. McCain, the media’s candidate, is a cancer survivor who will be 72 in 2008. Frist has a golden resume, but he’s a snooze.

Jeb is head and shoulders above this field. … That’s why it would be a mistake to view the next four years as a terminal presidency.