Martha T. Moore, USA TODAY
(USA Today)—It didn’t take long for Jeb Bush to find out what he’ll be debating with his fellow Republicans if he runs for president in 2016.
Less than 24 hours after Bush announced he will “actively explore” a presidential bid, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul — also a potential candidate — shot back with a one-line online ad from RandPAC, his political action committee: “We need leaders who will stand against Common Core,” the ad said.
The quick response shows how controversy over educational standards that have their roots in the education policy of President George W. Bush could affect a campaign by his younger brother.
The GOP’s bumper crop of potential presidential candidates is split on the Common Core, a set of academic guidelines introduced in 2010 by the National Governors Association and adopted by 46 states. Since leaving the Florida governorship in 2007, Bush has spent much of his time advocating for education reform, including Common Core and school choice. He created the Foundation for Excellence in Education as a vehicle for the cause.
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