Crowley Political Report

Jeb Bush ended the year resigning from "all of his corporate and nonprofit board memberships" according to the Washington Post.

While Bush continues to suggest that he is still thinking about running for president, it is clear that he is well beyond thinking. Simply put - with his recent actions, including the start of a leaderhip PAC, Bush is a candidate.

There is no point in accepting the notion that someone is not a candidate until they make it "official." If it looks like a candidate, travels like a candidate, and gives speeches like a candidate - he's a candidate.

Really the only decision remaining is to continue as a candidate or drop out of the race. 

According the Post: Bush’s New Year’s Eve disclosure, coming in an e-mail from an aide to The Washingotn Post, culminated a string of moves he has made in recent days to shed business interests that have enriched him since leaving office in 2007. The aide said the resignations had been made “effective today.”

Read the Post story here.

Meanwhile, Bush has declined an invitiation to go to Iowa and be part of Congressman Steve King's Iowa Freedom Summit. Among those accepting the invitation are: Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, Sarah Palin, Ben Carson, Carly Fiorina and others. Learn more here.

Organizers describe the summit this way: Citizens United and Congressman Steve King are teaming up to bring grassroots activists from across Iowa to hear directly from conservative leaders on how we can get America back on track by focusing on our core principles of pro-growth economics, social conservatism, and a strong national defense.

Bush's "scheduling conflict" could be hint that he may decide to skip the Iowa caucuses. The summit is January 24.