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Jeb Bush Gets Applause at Conservative Forum

Jeb Bush, who has fought the perception of conservatives that he is not one of them, journeyed into the lion’s den on Saturday. While he may not have converted every skeptic at the RedState Gathering, a conclave of anti-establishment Republicans, he persuaded more than a few to give him a second look.

The RedState Gathering of conservative activists largely attracted attention because of something that did not take place in Georgia, namely an appearance by Donald Trump. But the gathering featured nine other presidential candidates and provided key insight into how candidates and voters interact in the Deep South leading into the increasingly important “SEC primary” next spring.

RedState convention: 5 takeaways

It was the Donald Trump show that wasn’t.

The RedState Gathering, a high-profile annual convention of conservatives held here in Atlanta this weekend, drew nine presidential candidates. But the one driving the conversation was the one who wasn’t there.

Winners at the G.O.P. Debate Did Not Include Bush and Trump

Winning a primary debate isn’t about having the best one-liners or drawing the biggest applause.

For top candidates, it’s an audition for party elites, moneyed supporters and, secondarily, voters.

Winners and losers of Republican debate

1) Ohio Gov. John Kasich: He set the Internet buzzing with his common-man, common-sense pitches, weaving in family stories while introducing his economic record in Ohio to a national audience.

At the inaugural GOP presidential debate, a swing-state governor with a record of reforms and a message of economic mobility made his mark. Entering the debate stage to loud applause, the experienced GOP executive touted his brand of compassionate conservatism. He disarmed skeptics of his free-wheeling speaking style, coming prepared with crisp talking points advocating his governing record.

“It’s over!” exclaimed Megyn Kelly at 11:03 p.m., just slightly more than two hours after the start of the Fox News prime-time debate in Cleveland—bringing to a close an event that John Weaver, the chief strategist for Ohio Governor John Kasich, compared in terms of media anticipation to the chariot race in “Ben Hur.”