NEW YORK — Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush will raise money on Wall Street on Wednesday at an eye-popping $100,000 per-ticket Park Avenue event hosted by private equity mogul Henry Kravis and his wife.
The price of admission to the event, which will raise funds for Bush’s “Right to Rise” super PAC, surprised even Wall Street veterans used to high-dollar fundraisers.
The event comes as Bush continues a shock and awe approach to early 2016 fundraising that people close to the campaign say could eventually see the former governor reach a total of between $50 million and $100 million between the super PAC, a traditional political action committee and an eventual presidential campaign.
Bush spokeswoman Kristy Campbell declined to comment on the price of the Kravis fundraiser, the second event the private equity titan has held for Bush.
“We don’t detail info on private finance events,” she said in an email. But two people familiar with the event confirmed the $100,000 amount.
“I shook my head when I heard the number,” one senior Wall Street executive who is not attending the event said on Tuesday. Another said the event would likely draw a significant crowd and would put Bush well on a path to raise over $50 million for the super PAC alone.
Bush is moving quickly to consolidate financial support in the wealthy enclaves of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, in many cases squeezing out New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. People familiar with the matter said the KKR event is likely to feature Kravis and other senior executives at the firm, including Ken Mehlman, who managed George W. Bush’s 2004 campaign, and Alexander Navab. Mehlman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Bush has made direct personal appeals to former Wall Street supporters of 2012 nominee Mitt Romney, who recently said he would not seek the nomination again in 2016. People close to both Romney and Bush say the KKR event and several to follow closely after it will demonstrate that the vast bulk of Romney’s extensive financial network will move directly to Bush. One big remaining question is whether Bush will lock down the fundraising services of Romney confidant and investing partner Spencer Zwick.
Such a move would signal to many that Romney – who seemed cool to Bush in remarks upon deciding not to enter the race – had given his blessing to supporters to move to the former Florida governor.
Bush’s schedule in New York on Wednesday also includes a luncheon with former secretary of State Henry Kissinger, which was first reported by The New York Observer. The New York events follow a Bush super PAC fundraiser in Tallahassee, Florida that included several hundred of the state’s top donors and fundraisers. The event was also open to reporters, part of Bush’s effort to run a more transparent presidential campaign.
