The Hill has just provided a more detailed breakdown than I’ve previously seen of how political operatives affiliated with President Bush and his brother Jeb have gravitated to opposing GOP candidates for 2008. Key presidential advisors such as Mark McKinnon and Terry Nelson have joined the John McCain campaign. It seems to have been the destination of choice for most veterans of the two presidential bids. But Ben Ginsburg, prominent as the president’s counsel during the re-election, and a handful of other former aides have joined the Mitt Romney team. Meanwhile, many former political pros for Florida Gov. Bush — including his former campaign manager, finance director, and policy director — have cast their lot with Romney. These decisions may not simply be reflective of individual preferences:

“Jeb Bush may be putting together the backup team,” said Ross K. Baker, a professor of political science at Rutgers University. “Should McCain falter and prove not very appetizing, they’ve designated his successor.” Baker said Romney “represents the fallback position of the Bush White House without having the Washington Bush supporters withdraw their support of McCain.” “It’s betting on two horses,” said Baker of the Bush family’s apparent hedging strategy. “It seems to me an effort to diversify their portfolio.”

On the other hand, it may just be a case of a governor’s staff feeling more comfortable backing another governor, according to a McCain supporter from the Florida legislature:

“Jeb Bush was a very successful governor and Mit Romney was a successful governor — both running on a conservative platform so it would be logical that [Jeb] Bush followers would support Romney,” said Rep. Ric Keller (R-Fla.).
Keller said he is supporting McCain because the senator is a “straight talker” and a better match against Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.), the 2008 Democratic presidential frontrunner.
Cardenas, the former state GOP chairman, said a majority of Jeb Bush’s state fundraising network has sided with Romney.
“I think we’ve announced a list of 80 names of major contributors in Florida who have signed up with the Romney for president effort,” said Cardenas, a member of Romney’s Florida Steering Committee. “It’s significantly more than half our major donors.”