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Bush: Jeb could be president
10/05/2006 22:01 - (SA)
Orlando - United States President George W Bush has suggested he would like to see his family's White House legacy continue - perhaps with his younger brother, Jeb, as the chief executive.
Florida governor Jeb Bush is well-suited for another office and would make "a great president," said the US president on Wednesday.
Quoted on the American newspaper, the St Petersburg Times, website, Bush said: "I would like to see Jeb run at some point in time, but I have no idea if that's his intention or not."
The president said he had "pushed him fairly hard about what he intends to do", but Jeb had not said.
"I have no idea what he's going to do. I've asked him that question myself. I truly don't think he knows," said Bush.
Jeb Bush, 53, will end his second term as governor in January.
'I would like Jeb to run one day'
His brother, George, ends his second presidential term in January 2009. Neither can seek re-election because of term limits.
Jeb Bush has repeatedly said he was not going to run in 2008.
But even his own father said no one believed Jeb when he said he was not interested in running at some point.
Former president George HW Bush told CNN's Larry King Live last year that he would like Jeb to run one day, and that he would be "awfully good" as president.
The Florida governor laughed when asked about his father's comments last June.
"Oh, Lord," he said and shook his head. "I love my dad."
The brothers Bush appeared together during a presidential visit to Tampa on Tuesday.
Governor Bush was waiting on the tarmac when Air Force One arrived and greeted the president with a politician's handshake and "Welcome to Florida".
The president brushed aside the formality and playfully adjusted his younger brother's necktie.
'I am real proud of Jeb'
Jeb Bush introduced his brother at a retirement community in Sun City Centre, where the president touted the new Medicare prescription-drug benefit.
They had a private lunch together with political supporters, visited a fire station and appeared together before television cameras to express concern about wildfires blazing across the state.
The governor was not with the president during his visit to the Puerto Rican Club of Central Florida in Orlando on Wednesday - George W Bush's final stop on a three-day trip to the state.
But, Bush was sure his brother still got some attention.
"Yesterday I checked in with my brother," said Bush as he took the stage.
"Make sure everything's going all right. I'm real proud of Jeb. He's a good, decent man and I love him dearly."
- AP
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