via @learyreports
Setting aside Jeb Bush's solid performance on the CPAC stage yesterday, the headlines would have been quite different today had he been repeatedly booed or faced a mass walk out.
People booed and heckled, and some walked out. But hundreds of Bush supporters filled the spacious room and sent up waves of cheers and applause. The strategy began with a Feb. 19 email:
"Friends,
A group of JEB! '16 supporters are heading out to National Harbor to support Governor Bush during his speech at CPAC next Friday, 2/27. We're working on having a location at CPAC for Governor Bush to visit with supporters after the speech. If you have friends or co-workers who support the Governor, please encourage them to attend as well. Let's show the nation that Governor Bush's proven conservatism and leadership is what America needs right now.
Please plan on being there by noon as we want to make sure every supporter is able to get a seat for the Governor's speech, which will be approximately 1:30pm."
The email was provided to the Tampa Bay Times by one of the organizers, who disputed the characteriztion in some reports that the troops amounted to Astroturfing. "Far from that, it was Jeb alumni who wanted to help the cause. I think the haters are mad because us being able to flood CPAC with 500 people illustrates the depth of the network and the passion that Jeb Bush invokes."
--ALEX LEARY, Tampa Bay Times
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