The 8 Biggest Donors Who Could Change the Republican Race for President

There are billionaires who could upend the state of play simply by opening their checkbooks.

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By Julie Bykowicz

February 20, 2015 at 10:45 AM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

Jeb Bush recently called himself a "gladiator" because he has been on the road so much this year raising money for a possible presidential run. With a goal of banking $100 million by the end of March, the former Florida governor's intense schedule–60 fundraisers in three months–is paying off: He has locked down much of 2012 Republican nominee Mitt Romney's fundraising team in the three weeks since Romney decided not to make another run.

The latest bold-faced name to move from Team Romney is New York Jets owner Woody Johnson, who the New York Times reported on Thursday has been telling donors that he will back Bush. It's a significant coup. Four years ago, Johnson led Romney's fundraising in the New York region. At least half of Romney's former New York and Chicago bundlers are also on board, Republican sources have said.