George and Jeb Bush host Kennedy-style fundraising party with cocktails and lobster rolls for 300 guests at family estate
- Jeb Bush throws party in his Maine family home for wealthy supporters
- Guests enjoyed cocktails and a tour of George W. Bush's new art studio
- Mood was 'jubilant' thanks to huge $114million war chest, claims source
Jeb Bush and his father, former US President George H. W. Bush, wooed wealthy supporters and donors to his White House campaign with an extravagant fundraiser at their family home in Maine.
Among the 300 guests invited for the luxurious retreat at Kennebunkport were billionaire New York Jets owner Woody Johnson, former Florida governor Bob Martinez and top Wall Street financier Marvin Schwartz.
The visitors were treated to cocktails as they were greeted by the former President and First Lady Barbara Bush and given a tour of the property, which sits by a rocky beach.
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Fundraising: Jeb Bush invited key allies and donors out to the Bush family home in Kennebunkport, Maine
Plush: Guests were treated to cocktails and given a tour of the Bush family home in Kennebunkport, Maine (pictured) as part of the event, before Jeb Bush gave a speech on the rocks and bought them lobster rolls
Entertaining: Former US President George H. W. Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush were in attendance
Jeb's sister Doro acted as tour-guide for the visitors, showing them George W. Bush's new art studio, although the 43rd President of the United States did not attend the party.
A source in the party told the New York Post that the Bush family were 'jubilant' given that Jeb Bush, a former Florida governor, has a whopping $114million raised so far to run for the presidency.
The 62-year-old reportedly welcomed his guests and gave a speech while standing on a cliff-edge, before all went to a nearby restaurant for lobster rolls.
The exercise has been dubbed 'Kennedy-esque', owing to the similarities with JFK, who would throw parties for his supporters and donors, and take them sailing.
'This is to the Bushes what Hyannis Port is to the Kennedys,' said Dirk Van Dongen, a lobbyist in Washington to the New York Times.
Other attendees at the party included eminent Republican politician Tom Feeney, 'Wall Street' author Kenneth Lipper, and philanthropist and socialite Jean Shafiroff.
Former assistant secretary of state for educational and cultural affairs Dina Habib Powell was in attendance, as was Belmont Ltd. chairman Roland Hernandez.
Invited: Among the 300 guests invited to the party at the Bush residence in Maine was the billionaire owner of the New York Jets Woody Johnson (left) and philanthropist and socialite Jean Shafiroff
Attended: Dina Habib Powell, the former assistant secretary of state for educational and cultural affairs who now works at Goldman Sachs, and Republican politician Tom Feeney also came along to the party
Lobster rolls and luxury: The guests were treated to the New England summer delicacy at The Colony hotel during their fund raising trip to Maine
The estate in Walker's Point has been in the Bush family for hundreds of years, having first been bought by Jeb's great-great-grandfather in the 19th century.
Jeb Bush is fighting for the Republican nomination for the Presidency, but the Democrat party is also ready to throw serious money to keep one of their own in the White House.
HIllary Clinton is building a war chest of her own, with some estimating she is looking to spend $2.5billion to be the USA's first female President.
On Bush's own side Donald Trump, the businessman worth between $4.1 and $9 billion, is also chasing the Republican nomination, told a Boston radio station he was prepared to 'spend it all' as part of his Presidential campaign.
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