Presidential candidate Jeb Bush garnered support from the former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor on Thursday.
"Governor Bush is a true conservative leader with a long-term vision for this country and the practical know-how to implement it. After eight years of anemic growth and declining international relevance, America needs a president that can re-energize our nation and recapture our greatness -- Jeb Bush is that man. I look forward to working closely with the governor and his team as they chart a course to the White House," Cantor said in a statement, according to CNN.
Cantor took to Twitter to announce his support.
.@JebBush is a true leader w/ a long-term vision for our country and the know how to implement it– not just talk about it. I'm #AllInForJeb.
— Eric Cantor (@EricCantor) August 27, 2015
"This is a big deal for Eric, and a big deal for Jeb," said a top Republican involved in the negotiations.
"They have known each other for a long time, speak regularly and have great mutual respect for one another. Eric believes he is the only candidate with a real long-term vision for the country who can also actually implement it - not just talk about it," a Cantor source told Politico.
Many of Bush's rivals, namely, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, Sen. Marco Rubio and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, will see the endorsement as a blow, as all of them were striving to earn Cantor's support. "They pursued him for months and months. He still has a whole lot of friends in Congress and other prominent folks across the country in the party and the finance and fundraising communities," a source told TIME.
Cantor coming out in support of Bush shows that "he's making a play for a cabinet position in the next Republican presidential administration," a source with strong ties in the Republican Party of Virginia told Breitbart News.
Cantor faced a shocking loss to conservative upstart David Brat during a primary, which led to him leaving Congress. With the endorsement, he will now become co-chair of Bush's campaign in his home state of Virginia, providing the former Florida governor access to his extensive donor base in the finance and Jewish communities.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump mocked the partnership on Twitter.
Who wants the endorsement of a guy (@EricCantor) who lost in perhaps the greatest upset in the history of Congress? — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 27, 2015
