Jeb Bush's Fundraising Machine Preparing for Launch of His Campaign

As Jeb Bush focuses on foreign policy this week during a visit to Europe, his team at home is finalizing a fundraising blitz that will begin as soon as he steps into the 2016 presidential race. Bush will publicly announce his bid for the Republican presidential nomination on Monday, while privately embarking on what his team has dubbed the "27 in Fifteen" challenge—asking fundraisers to collect at least $27,000 in donations in the 15 remaining days of the month.

Those who do will be awarded certain perks, including an invitation to a two-day July retreat at the Bush family compound in Kennebunkport, Maine. The private gathering features an "evening picnic" with Bush and a morning "political and campaign briefing" with senior campaign staff, according to materials distributed to donors and obtained by The Associated Press.