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A 3rd President Bush? First 2 All for It

His own father says no one believes him when he says he's not interested in running at some point. Former President Bush told CNN's "Larry King Live" last year that he would like Jeb to run one day and that the son would be "awfully good" as president.

The Florida governor laughed when asked about his father's comments last June and said, "Oh, Lord." He simply shook his head no when asked if he was running.


President Bush, center, talks with Rep. Katherine Harris, R-Fla., left, as Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, right, looks on during his arrival at MacDill Air Force Base, Tuesday, May 9, 2006 in Tampa. Bush's Florida travels put him smack in the middle of a political brouhaha involving his brother and the woman who helped the president win the White House. Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said Monday that Rep. Katherine Harris, R-Fla., can't win her campaign to unseat Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson. The governor is pushing Florida House Speaker Allan Bense to challenge Harris in the Republican primary.(AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
President Bush, center, talks with Rep. Katherine Harris, R-Fla., left, as Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, right, looks on during his arrival at MacDill Air Force Base, Tuesday, May 9, 2006 in Tampa. Bush's Florida travels put him smack in the middle of a political brouhaha involving his brother and the woman who helped the president win the White House. Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said Monday that Rep. Katherine Harris, R-Fla., can't win her campaign to unseat Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson. The governor is pushing Florida House Speaker Allan Bense to challenge Harris in the Republican primary.(AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) (Pablo Martinez Monsivais - AP)

The brothers Bush appeared together Tuesday during the president's visit to the Tampa area. Gov. 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.

Jeb Bush introduced his brother at a retirement community in Sun City Center. They had a private lunch together with political supporters, then visited a fire station and appeared together before television cameras to express concern about wildfires that were blazing across the state. The governor was not with the president during his visit to The Puerto Rican Club of Central Florida in Orlando Wednesday _ George W. Bush's final stop on a three-day trip to the state. But the president was sure his brother still got some attention.

"Yesterday I checked in with my brother," President Bush said 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."

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On the Net:

http://www.whitehouse.gov


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© 2006 The Associated Press