Former South Carolina First Lady Endorses Jeb Bush For President
Former South Carolina First Lady Iris Campbell announced today that she is endorsing Jeb Bush for President. Mrs. Campbell is the widow of the late South Carolina Republican icon, Governor Carroll A. Campbell, Jr.“I’m happy to offer the Campbell family’s support to Jeb Bush for President. I’ve known Jeb for many years and know that he has the experience, knowledge and maturity to be a great president for our country,” Mrs. Campbell said. “Like Carroll, as governor, Jeb had a tremendous record as a leader of bringing people together to get things done, without compromising his values and principles. In addition, he has a unique, first-hand perspective of the job of president and will be prepared to serve on day one as Commander-In-Chief and won’t need a learning curve,” Mrs. Campbell went on to say. "Having served in both the U.S. Congress and as governor, Carroll often said being in Congress doesn't prepare someone to be president because they govern by committee, not as an executive. If Carroll were with us today, he would want the people of South Carolina to get behind Jeb."
In 1988, Governor Campbell played a pivotal role in the election of George H.W. Bush as president, serving as southern chairman and national co-chairman for the campaign. During Jeb Bush’s and George W. Bush’s first campaigns for governor, Governor Campbell, who was Chairman of the National Governor’s Association at the time, traveled to Florida and Texas to campaign for his two friends. In 1998, Governor Campbell served as the Washington, D.C. chairman for Jeb Bush’s second run for governor. Then in 2000, Governor Campbell served as a co-chairman for George W. Bush’s presidential campaign. In 2006, former President George H.W. Bush endorsed Mike Campbell, the Campbell’s youngest son, in a commercial for his primary bid for Lt. Governor of SC.
In 2001 at an event in Lexington, SC former first lady Barbara Bush was quoted as saying “My husband nor my son would have been president without the efforts of Carroll and Iris Campbell and they will forever be lifelong friends.”
Governor Campbell, whom is credited as being the architect for building the Republican party into the majority party in SC, passed away from Alzheimer’s in 2005. Following his passing, President George W. Bush stated “South Carolina and our country have lost a great leader, and Laura and I have lost a great friend. Our hearts go out to Iris and the whole Campbell family.”
