Republicans seek Jeb Bush candidacy

WASHINGTON, March 1 (UPI) -- Some Republicans are hoping former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush enters the presidential race, saying he has the minority support Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum lack.

Mike McCurry, who was President Bill Clinton's press secretary, told Politico he doubts the GOP is "unhinged" enough to consider Bush for the nomination.

"What Democrat would not worry about a popular leader from a critical state who sounds pretty moderate and can rescue the GOP from it's anti-Latino death grip?" he said.

Bush continues to win praise, despite declining to run in the 2012 race. "I have the perfect candidate -- Jeb Bush. But he's not running," Andy Card, who was chief of staff for President George W. Bush, told CBS Wednesday.

Jeb Bush's criticisms of Romney have won the attention of conservative pundit Ann Coulter and officials with President Barack Obama's re-election campaign, who suspect he may be gearing up to launch a campaign of his own.

Bush told audiences at a gathering in Dallas last Thursday, he hopes the candidates' approaches will change by the general election.

"I used to be a conservative and I watch these debates and I'm wondering, I don't think I've changed but it's a little troubling sometimes when people are appealing to people's fears and emotion rather than trying to get them to look over the horizon for a broader perspective," he said.