Unlike much of the potential 2016 Republican presidential field, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida is declining Rep. Steve King’s invitation to speak at his Iowa Freedom Summit on Jan. 24.
A communications director for the conservative political advocacy group Citizens United, which is co-sponsoring the event, told NBC News that Bush will not attend the event in Des Moines “due to a scheduling conflict.”
The event will be the first major 2015 Republican gathering in the Hawkeye State, which kicks of the nomination process. Several other potential Republican candidates have already said they are attending. The list includes New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson.
Bush’s decision to decline the summit is particularly notable because he has emerged as a leading Republican voice urging for comprehensive immigration reform. Meanwhile, King, considered a political powerbroker of sorts in the state, is known for his strident remarks against such reforms – generating a string of negative publicity in 2013 for saying immigrants coming across the U.S. border have “calves the size of cantaloupes because they’re hauling 75 pounds of marijuana across the desert. “
When asked by The Washington Post, King would not guess if Bush’s decision was political. “I want all of the possible candidates to come to Iowa and make their pitch,” the lawmaker said. “They should all come and speak to activists and interact with conservatives. I hope he finds a chance to do so.”








