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Jeb Bush, Mitt Romney visiting desert over next week

Denise Goolsby, James Meier, and Barrett Newkirk
PalmSprings

Chatter about who will formally announce their intentions for the 2016 presidential campaign has grown louder over the past month, but two likely Republican candidates are spending time in the Coachella Valley over the next week.

Jeb Bush — former Florida governor, and the son and brother of two American presidents — will visit the desert on Friday for fundraisers, according to a member of the host committee. The younger brother of former president George W. Bush recently launched the "Right To Rise" political action committee, further escalating speculation he will run this year.

Mitt Romney — former Massachusetts governor and a presidential candidate in the past two elections — will kick off the Desert Town Hall speaker series in Indian Wells on Monday. He has already announced that he's considering running and has been making the rounds ever since.

Jeb Bush spoke in front of 1,900 people at the Desert Town Hall event in March 2013.

An invitation to a reception and discussion with Jeb Bush at the Eldorado County Club in Indian Wells for Friday evening sets a price of $1,250 per person or $2,500 per couple. The event is limited to 100 attendees. Contributions go to his "Right to Rise" PAC.

The invitation lists host committee members Dianne Moss, a friend of the Bush family; philanthropist and Indian Wells resident Carol Price; Charles Swindells, former U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa; business executive Paul Schorr III; and Portland businessman and philanthropist Gordon Sondland.

The timing is perfect for Bush to visit the Coachella Valley, Sondland told The Desert Sun on Thursday.

Sondland, who served on Romney's national finance committee when he ran for president in 2012, has a home in Indian Wells.

"As you know, the governor is seriously exploring a run for the presidency and he's in that pre-announcement phase and he's reacquainting himself with old friends and making new friends," Sondland said. "Because this is the season in the desert, there's so many ... friends all within a very close physical proximity, so it's an ideal time and place for him to attend various events and get a chance to get together with people."

Sondland, a longtime friend of the Bush family, said Jeb Bush connects well with both Republicans and Democrats.

"He's governed a very complicated state for two terms, he's uniquely qualified for the job," Sondland said. "I'm very supportive of him, so I want to help him in his journey."

Sondland said all activities planned for Bush's visit will be held at El Dorado Country Club, which has historic ties to Republican presidents. Dwight Eisenhower lived in the county club, and a bust of the president stands on the 11th fairway. Gerald Ford also was an honorary member of the club.

One of the events, a luncheon, will be at the home of philanthropists Stacey and Greg Renker.

The gatherings are closed to the press.

The Coachella Valley is a popular stop for national Republican candidates in need of donations — similar to Newport Beach or suburban areas outside New York City, said Sherry Bebitch Jeffe, a professor at the University of Southern California Sol Price School of Public Policy.

But money may not be the only objective, Jeffe noted.

"I wouldn't be surprised if part of this is looking for delegates," she said. "To get the nomination, first you have to get delegates and the momentum to get through a primary."

Bush's visit was arranged by people with close ties to the family, host committee member Moss said.

"We've been family friends with the Bushes for years," she said. "There are personal friendships involved."

Her husband, William Moss, met former president George H.W. Bush years ago in Midland, Texas, and the two became good friends. In 1989, at the request of the president, he organized and was chairman of the President's Drug Advisory Council. Bush wrote the introduction to William Moss' book, "It's Never Too Late: My Spiritual Journey."

Moss hopes it won't be Jeb Bush's last trip to the desert.

"There's an election component in the works and if he runs, for sure we'll want to do an event for him here," she said.

Do you plan to attend any fundraisers for either Bush or Romney over the next week? Please email LocalNews@DesertSun.com with your information.