President Bush said the Republican Party could benefit from having another Bush, his younger brother, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, in Washington.
“He would be an awesome U.S. Senator,” the president said.
In an interview with RealClearPolitics, President Bush said that both the GOP and the state of Florida would gain from having Jeb Bush in the Senate.
“He is a proven leader who, when given responsibilities, succeeded,” Jeb’s older brother said.
The ex-governor is considering a 2010 bid for the seat held by Sen. Mel Martinez (R), who has decided against running for a second term. Jeb Bush served two terms as governor, from 1999 to 2007.
President Bush also downplayed losses by Republicans in the past election, saying that they weren’t as overwhelmed at the ballot box as they had been in past years. He said he thought the United States was still a “center-right country.”
“I think most Americans want their government to be effective, results-oriented, efficient,” he said. “They would like to pay as little a tax as possible. They want their military to be strong, viable, and effective. They want their public leaders to promote personal responsibility by living responsible lives. Most people are – from the cultural side, believe in an Almighty. The question is how you take those basic beliefs and explain them, either through policy or words, in a way where there’s common understanding.”