At the end of 2014, the news media was in full 2016 presidential election mode. It’s as if November’s election never happened. The prognosticators have all moved on to prognosticating about something new. It’s important to change the subject quickly — lest you remember their predictions about how close the midterms would be, how Mitch McConnell might lose, that Texas could elect a Democratic governor … the list goes on.

And so as we move on to 2016, much discussion focuses on Common Core educational standards. When Jeb Bush announced that he’s considering running for president, many pundits immediately claimed his support for Common Core would hurt him. The data suggests otherwise.

I sat down with two experts on the issue, former Alabama Republican Gov. Bob Riley and former U.S. Rep. Harold Ford Jr., D-Tenn. They were both confused by all the claims that Common Core could be a litmus test in presidential primaries. “If you’d asked me that six months ago, I would have given you a completely different answer,” said Riley. But, he explains, election results nationwide have proven Common Core’s popularity.

Common Core creates the strangest of bedfellows, with the tea party and teacher unions showing similar inclinations to halt reforms. There were efforts to unseat candidates who supported Common Core. But governors and state superintendents still overwhelmingly support it. Riley pointed to conservative Ohio Gov. John Kasich’s continued support for the standards. Kasich cruised to victory and even received 26 percent of the black vote.