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Bush’s brother considering Senate run

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said he may run for a Senate seat that will be vacated by Republican Mel Martinez. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
By BRENDAN FARRINGTON Associated Press
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said he may run for a Senate seat that will be vacated by Republican Mel Martinez. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Still popular in Florida, former Gov. Jeb Bush said Wednesday that he’s interested in the seat Sen. Mel Martinez is giving up, and the field of possible candidates could quickly narrow to make way for the president’s younger brother.

Bush, 55, won praise from Democrats and Republicans alike for leading the state through eight hurricanes over a two-year period. He used standardized testing to overhaul the education system, was credited with making government more efficient and lowered taxes to make Florida more business-friendly.

While his older brother, soon-to-be former President George W. Bush, has been so unpopular that he has been a liability to many Republican candidates this year, Jeb Bush remains a popular figure here.

Martinez, who served in President Bush’s Cabinet and supported an immigration proposal unpopular with Republicans, has struggled to boost his approval ratings because of his close ties to the president. He said Tuesday he was not seeking a second term because he wanted to spend more time with his family.

Jeb Bush said Wednesday in an e-mail: “I am considering running,” but didn’t elaborate. A separate statement from spokeswoman Kristy Campbell sounded like the former governor was ready to get back into politics. “He will give it thoughtful consideration in the coming weeks and months,” the statement said.

The statement means the former governor is all but certain to get in the race, said a person familiar with senior Republicans in Washington who spoke on condition of anonymity so they could talk more freely about the former governor’s approach. Bush’s consideration – even if tentative in public – is a strategic one, to discourage other Republicans from jumping in, the person said.