To illustrate just how pervasive Barry Jackson’s influence is in Republican politics, look no further than the wild Florida Senate race.
Early in 2009, when Marco Rubio was waffling over a challenge to Republican Gov. Charlie Crist, he called Jackson — who is now House Minority Leader John Boehner’s chief of staff — for advice. Jackson encouraged Rubio, saying he could beat Crist in the primary. Rubio went for it, rattling the political landscape in the Sunshine State.
Yet Jackson’s name never appeared in any media narrative about the race.
Such has been the common thread through Jackson’s career as Boehner’s chief of staff and a top adviser to President George W. Bush — no fingerprints, no credit — but enormous behind-the-scenes influence.
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