SXMElections.com

WASHINGTON--Republican Jeb Bush will visit three U.S. allies, Germany, Poland and Estonia, in early June to get a first-hand view of European economic and security challenges as he explores a run for his party's presidential nomination in 2016, a Bush aide said on Monday.
  Foreign policy has been growing in importance in the battle to determine President Barack Obama's successor, with Republicans questioning Obama's handling of the threat from Islamic State and Russia's aggression against Ukraine.
  Bush's visit will give him a chance to lay out his differences with Obama, a Democrat, particularly when it comes to NATO as alliance members Poland and Estonia watch events in Ukraine with alarm. Polish politicians have repeatedly called for increased U.S. military presence in the region. The U.S. presidential election will be held in November 2016.
  Bush told talk radio host Hugh Hewitt on March 30 that Russian President Vladimir Putin is a "ruthless pragmatist" and the United States should let Moscow know of U.S. determination to protect the alliance and its members. His visit will also allow him to distinguish his foreign policy views from those of Hillary Clinton, the overwhelming favorite for the Democratic presidential nomination.
  In Germany, the former Florida governor will address the governing Christian Democratic Union economic conference, said Bush's aide, who requested anonymity. In Poland and Estonia, Bush will meet government and business leaders and leaders of civic and other organizations.
  Bush spokeswoman Kristy Campbell said that in all three countries Bush will discuss policies to promote growth, innovation and technologies to address the changing global economic environment and ways to foster prosperity on both sides of the Atlantic. "He will also be listening to their perspectives on growing security challenges in the region," she said.
  An aide said the 62-year-old Bush, who is the brother of former President George W. Bush, has yet to decide whether to run for president. Other sources close to Bush's camp have said his team has discussed the possibility of an announcement in June, after the trip.
  David Yepsen, director of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University, said Bush's trip is significant because foreign policy and military affairs are playing a more important role in the 2016 campaign than they did in 2008 and 2012. But, he said, Bush should be cautious because it is easy to make mistakes on a global stage. "It can backfire on you," he said.
  In recent months two rivals, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, traveled to Europe, where Walker stumbled on the subject of evolution and Christie drew criticism for offering no insight into how he would conduct foreign policy. In 2012, then Republican nominee Mitt Romney visited London, Jerusalem and Poland in a trip that was noteworthy for a number of gaffes.