OXON HILL, Maryland (AP) — Likely Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush was trying to walk a political tightrope at a big gathering of conservatives, trying to woo them while also distancing himself from their role in a clash in Washington that threatened homeland security funding.
Bush, who is weighing a presidential bid, told party activists huddled near Washington for the annual Conservative Political Action Conference on Friday that he backs efforts to roll back Obama's executive actions. But coupling those efforts with the Homeland Security budget left him confused.
"Look, I'm not an expert on the ways of Washington," he said. "It makes no sense to me that we're not funding the control of our border, which is the whole argument. I'm missing something."
Bush's maneuvering is not unusual at this stage of the presidential race. Candidates seeking their parties' nominations for president traditionally must prove their ideological credentials to win over grassroots activists and donors whose support is key. If they get the nomination, they then tend to pivot toward the center to win over mainstream voters in the general election.
Bush is receiving the most attention in the wide open Republican race. On the Democratic side, Hillary Rodham Clinton has a commanding lead over other potential candidates, according to polls.
Bush said he considered Obama's executive actions on immigration extraordinary and illegal. He predicted they would be struck down if Congress fails to act first. Obama, with directives issued in 2012 and earlier this year, largely eliminated the threat of deportation for more than 4 million immigrants who entered the U.S. illegally, including some brought to America as youngsters.
Conservatives in Congress initially linked those actions with funding for the Department of Homeland Security. The department's current budget was set to run out late Friday night, and Congressional Republicans approve a one-week spending bill that averted a partial agency shutdown hours before it was to begin.
A federal judge in Texas temporarily blocked the administration from carrying out Obama's 2014 policy. The White House has appealed that ruling, and Obama has said he would take the case to the Supreme Court if necessary.
Bush also used his turn to try to win over conservative activists who are queasy about his record on immigration and education policies. But several dozen people walked out of the room in protest shortly after Bush started his speech.
"No more Bushes! No more Clinton!" chanted Georgia tea party activist William Temple, who led the walkout. "What's he doing here? He's an establishment candidate, not a conservative candidate."