Bush’s Iowa supporters announced ahead of today’s campaign visit

DES MOINES - One of Iowa's top Republican activists and a retired businessman and former U.S. Senate candidate are among those backing GOP presidential candidate Jeb Bush, the former Florida governor's campaign announced Tuesday.

Joni Scotter, a Republican activist from Cedar Rapids, and Mark Jacobs, the retired CEO of Reliant Energy who ran for the U.S. Senate in 2014, have joined state lawmakers and other prominent Iowa Republicans in supporting Bush's campaign.

Bush, who has been exploring a presidential campaign for months, formally jumped into the race Monday.

Bush will visit Iowa today, holding town hall events in Washington and Pella.

Bush is one of a dozen Republican candidates for president, with more expected to join the race in the coming weeks.

In recent GOP polls in Iowa, Bush has drawn the support of between 5 percent and 10 percent of respondents, placing him between second and fifth.

Scotter is well-known for her activism on behalf of Republican candidates.

Jacobs was one of the front-runners in a five-candidate primary for Iowa's open U.S. Senate seat in 2014, and he spent more than $1.5 million of his own money on the campaign.

Other Bush supporters announced Tuesday by his campaign:

l Former U.S. Rep. Greg Ganske

l Mary Kramer, former state senator and, U.S. ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean

l State Sen. Charles Schneider, West Des Moines

l State Reps. Zach Nunn of Bondurant, Ken Rizer of Cedar Rapids Ron Jorgensen of Sioux City

l Former state Rep. Renee Schulte of Cedar Rapids

l Des Moines City Council member Christine Hensley

l Activists and business leaders including Becky Beach, Calvin Rozenboom, Barbara Smeltzer, Erin Strawn, John Ruan III, Susan Geddes, Phil Condo, Thomas Dorr, Peggy Herman, Brian Kennedy.