Something has clicked for Jeb Bush in the last few days

NASHUA, N.H. - Speaking to a Rotary Club on Monday that his father once addressed as vice president, Jeb Bush admitted that he long resisted visiting New Hampshire before he became a presidential candidate to avoid fueling speculation.

But after more than eight months of campaigning here, he said, "I'm a better person, and I'm certainly a better candidate."

Sure enough, something has clicked for Bush in New Hampshire in the last few days. What's transpired by no means guarantees him a top-tier finish in Tuesday's primary here, but the crowds turning out to see him are bigger, his delivery on the stump is crisper and some of his key rivals have stumbled. At the least, the developments have mostly silenced talk of a hasty exit and skittish donors.

"I'm feeling good," the former Florida governor said Monday morning as he jumped off his campaign bus at the Nashua Country Club.

Across Bush World - from his famous family members, to senior aides, well-heeled donors and Florida loyalists braving a blizzard - there's a growing sense of relief. Finally, after enduring months of bad press, tepid debate performances and two rounds of campaign budget cuts, some believe they're on the verge of a good night.

"I'm really proud of Jeb," younger brother Neil Bush said on Monday at the Rotary luncheon. "You know, he's persisted and in spite of his last name he's showing people in New Hampshire that he is the best qualified guy and that message is resonating. He's standing up to the bully - to (Donald) Trump - like no other candidate has and I think he's really gotten what we're now calling 'Jeb-mentum.'"

Moments later, Jeb Bush walked into the banquet hall and played to a larger-than-usual bank of television cameras, stopping at every table to shake every hand. He posed for a photo with a pianist playing Broadway show tunes before turning to greet the press.

"Will you sing?" a reporter asked.

"No," he said. "I'm trying to save my voice."

On Monday night, Bush is slated to hold a rally in Portsmouth in the same hall that Arizona Sen. John McCain used to his conclude his successful New Hampshire primary campaigns in 2000 and 2008. On Tuesday, Bush is expected to make a series of unscheduled stops to turn out support or convince still-undecided voters. The Bush team has relied on 250 out-of-state volunteers over the past several weekends, many of whom flew up from Florida after working for Bush as governor.

Among them is Will Weatherford, a former Florida House speaker.

"There've been good speakers, but no one as good as him," Bush told the Nashua luncheon crowd on Monday - a subtle dig at Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, a 2016 rival who once had Weatherford's old job.

Bush has been particularly helped by circumstances beyond his control in recent days. First, Trump, his leading nemesis, placed second in Iowa, slowing the business magnate's march. Bush placed sixth in Iowa, but never committed to the caucuses as avidly as Trump. Most also agree that Bush bested Trump in a Saturday debate tussle over eminent domain.

Then there's Rubio, Bush's former mentee, who was humiliated in the debate when rival Chris Christie called him out for repeating talking points - and Rubio repeated them again anyway.

Rubio's struggles vividly proved what Bush and his advisers have long asserted: that the senator's carefully-crafted image masks his inexperience to serve as president. For months, advisers and donors have argued that Trump had "blocked out the sun" with wall-to-wall coverage of his unconventional campaign, leaving Rubio to enjoy what several aides and donors describe as fawning press coverage.

The Bush team is airing an attack ad that raises questions about Rubio's lack of legislative accomplishments. Bush criticized Rubio on the campaign trail Sunday in a backhanded way.

"Look, I've got a monkey brain, to be honest with you," he said as the crowd laughed. "I can't say the same thing, like - I can't say it. My mind works differently - message discipline is not my strength, I admit it. Something goes on in there, it's fertile, it's growing, it's challenging, I always question myself - I'm intellectually curious."

Finally getting to his point, Bush added: "It's not all scripted - I think that's actually a strength to be president of the United States, because you cannot script being commander in chief."

Leaving the event, Bush bear-hugged a man who said he planned to vote for the governor after seeing him at several events. Beaming, Bush said pundits "are going to have to rewrite their political obits" - or stories of his political demise.

Then he pointed to me: "You're on that list."

Previously:
• 02/08/16 Will New Hampshire be the last stand for Jeb Bush?
• 01/25/16 John Kasich - remember him? - is on the rise in New Hampshire