The shadow campaign is already in full swing as Mitt Romney and Jeb Bush openly consider presidential runs that would tap many of the same political and financial resources.
Romney told donors Friday he’s considering a third presidential run while Bush is forming a political action committee to use as a possible vessel for a presidential effort. The former Florida governor is also in California this week meeting with donors, according to two sources familiar with his plans.
There will be even more 2016 speculation later this month when a handful of possible candidates attend a gathering in Iowa.
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Republicans say that despite the early movements, the party can still fulfill the goals of truncating the official calendar.
“I think we’re still better off than we were, even if these guys stretch out the donor process in the front end,” Republican strategist Rick Wilson told CNN. “For all the early chatter, most of it is political class stuff, not about voter attention.”
CNN’s Maeve Reston contributed to this report
