George P. Bush is not endorsing anyone for the White House in 2016, even if his father, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, becomes a candidate.
"I’m staying out of that race," the younger Bush, 38, told Texas Tribune CEO and Editor-in-Chief Evan Smith at the newspaper's annual TribFest in Austin on Friday.
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When Smith asked Bush if he wouldn't endorse his own father, he responded: "I think folks know that I love him."
Smith asked Bush about Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, whom he endorsed in 2012 over Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst.
Cruz was backed by the tea party. Dewhurst was the choice of the Republican Party establishment.
Bush, who is Texas land commissioner, said Cruz sought his endorsement, describing him as a "forceful advocate" for such issues as repealing Obamacare and on international issues.
"He is a force of nature on the conservative side and he's fearless," Bush added. "There's a lot of folks who are hungry for that kind of leadership in Washington, D.C.
"We exchange text messages here and there and obviously, we'll help him in whatever he needs," Bush said.
Cruz also is considering a presidential run in 2016.
When asked whether his grandfather, George H.W. Bush, or uncle, George W. Bush, could survive a Republican primary today because of challenges from tea party candidates, George P. Bush did not directly answer the question.
"I’m a man of my own right," he responded. "I’ve been running in my campaign, presenting my own ideas.
"My campaign is about the future and not talking about the past," Bush continued. "We’ll leave that to historians to assess as to what was conservative and what was not, and what is conservative enough now."
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