Jeb Bush — The Republicans Want Him to Run; Democrats Fear He Will

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s victories in the Michigan and Arizona primaries Tuesday haven’t quieted talk of an alternative candidate. And much of the murmurs focus on former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Politico reports.

Many Republicans are pining for him, and many Democrats are fearful of him, thinking Bush can better connect with moderate and Hispanic voters than Romney can. Meanwhile, Bush repeatedly insists he won’t run.

“I have the perfect candidate — Jeb Bush. But he’s not running,” Andy Card, former chief of staff to President George W. Bush, told Charlie Rose on CBS on Wednesday.

As for the opposition party, “What Democrat would not worry about a popular leader from a critical state who sounds pretty moderate and can rescue the GOP from its anti-Latino death grip?” Mike McCurry, former press secretary for President Bill Clinton, asked rhetorically.

The former Florida governor has stayed neutral in the presidential race after endorsing Romney in 2008.

Bush has expressed concern about the tone of the campaign this time around. “I used to be a conservative,” he said last week, according to Fox News.

“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.”