Jeb Bush has launched his bid to become the Republican nominee for president.
In a video released hours ahead of his official launch in Miami, the former Florida governor has pledged to fix America.
Jeb Bush, 62, declared: “I’m ready to lead.”
The brother of ex-President George W. Bush and son of ex-President George H.W. Bush also promised to protect America’s most vulnerable and remove the barriers to social mobility.
However, doubts persist among conservatives in his party.
Early polling suggests that Jeb Bush has yet to dominate a wide field of Republican candidates.
In his latest video, entitled The Greatest Century, Jeb Bush strikes a very optimistic note, saying: “I see a great country on the verge of its greatest century, and I’m ready to lead.”
Although his campaign becomes official on June 15, it’s been no secret for many months and his team is well on the way to raising a $100 million war chest.
During a tour of Europe last week, Jeb Bush warned he would not waver from his core beliefs, even if some are unpopular in his party.
He said: “I’m not going to change who I am.
“I respect people who may not agree with me, but I’m not going to change my views because today someone has a view that’s different.”
In a separate video, called Making A Difference, Jeb Bush champions the rights of women, ethnic minorities and the disabled.
He says: “My core beliefs start with the premise that the most vulnerable in our society should be in the front of the line and not the back.
“What we need is new leadership that takes conservative principles and applies them so that people can rise up.”
Jeb Bush becomes the 11th Republican to declare, with Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and Florida Senator Marco Rubio among his biggest rivals.
