"I wish he would. And when the man says, 'I'm not running,' he means it. I wish he would run."

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Bush says brother Jeb isn't running for prez
By: CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney

November 8th, 2010
03:31 PM ET

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/11/08/bush-says-brother-jeb-isnt-running-for-prez/#more-134401



(CNN) - Jeb Bush for president isn't happening – at least in 2012, according to his older ex-president brother.

Though many White House aspirants fend off early questions about running for the Oval Office, former President George Bush says "no" means "no" when it comes to his brother.

"I wish he would," the former president told Fox News. "He has to run first. And he has made it clear he is not running in 2012. And when the man says, 'I'm not running,' he means it. I wish he would run."

Still, talk of a potential Jeb Bush run has increased in Beltway circles as the former president's popularity is on the rise and the Bush name no longer carries the toxic political baggage it once did. And that's keeping political analysts speculating 2012 may be a ripe year for the younger Bush to take on the man who suceeded his brother.

"The person I'm keeping my eye on, and I would have never said this two years ago, but someone who could unite the factions of the party, Jeb Bush," said David Gergen, a CNN contributor.