Gov. Jeb Bush on Wednesday brushed off his father’s public suggestions that he should run for president.
Gov. Bush, who has repeatedly and sometimes testily said he won’t run for the White House in 2008, was asked Wednesday morning about the remarks made by his father, former President George H.W. Bush, on Tuesday’s edition of CNN’s Larry King Live.
“Oh, Lord,” Gov. Bush said as he laughed. Shaking his head, he said: “I love my dad.”
Asked if he is running, the younger Bush simply shook his head no.
Former President Bush had said the night before that he would like to see the Florida governor run for the White House.
“Someday I would, yes,” said the elder Bush, who turns 81 this month. He said Jeb Bush would be “awfully good” as president.
“This guy’s smart, big and strong,” he said of his son. “Makes the decisions. And you know, not without controversy, but he’s led that state.”
The elder Bush said “the timing’s wrong” because Jeb Bush has said “he doesn’t want to do it.” But the former president then added: “Nobody believes that.”
Jeb Bush will end his second term as governor in January 2007. His brother George ends his second presidential term in January 2009. Neither can seek re-election because of term limits.