Jeb Bush's former budget chief, Donna Arduin today responds to Bill Kristol's recent column questioning the government shrinking credentials of her old boss:

During his eight years, Governor Bush reduced the number of state employees by 13,726 employees, or 11 percent of the total taxpayer-financed work force. His policies featured substantial fiscal reform, including eliminating nearly $20 billion in taxes; introducing transparent, performance-based budgets; limiting the size of government as a percentage of state gross domestic product; carrying out debt affordability measures; and privatizing services that are run more efficiently by private-sector providers.

Rasmussen Reports poll (moe +/- 4.5 percent) has 60 percent of Florida voters viewing Jeb favorably (78 percent for Republicans, 46 percent for Democrats), and 78 percent expecting him to run for senate. The robo poll found 74 percent approving of Charlie Crist's performance, and 52 percent saying it would be better for Crist to remain as governor than run for senate.