NEW YORK – Former US president George Bush snr offered an informal endorsement of Mitt Romney, saying that Romney “is the best choice for us”.
The former president told the Houston Chronicle newspaper he supported Mr Romney because of his “stability, experience, principles. He’s a fine person”, said Mr Bush (87). “I just think he’s mature and reasonable – not a bomb-thrower.”
The paper reported the comments, made this week, on its website on Thursday. A spokesman for Mr Bush confirmed the accuracy of the comments and said they reflected the views of the former president. But the spokesman, Jim Appleby, said Mr Bush did not intend to make a formal statement.
Ron Kaufman, a longtime friend of both Mr Romney and Mr Bush, said the former president apparently wanted to make it clear he would vote for Mr Romney in the Republican contest.
Mr Romney’s father, George Romney, the former governor of Michigan, was close to Mr Bush, which Mr Bush cited in the interview with the Houston newspaper.
In backing Mr Romney, Mr Bush is spurning a fellow Texan, governor Rick Perry, as well as Newt Gingrich, who was a rising star in the House leadership when Mr Bush served as president from 1989-1993.
“I like Perry, but he doesn’t seem to be going anywhere; he’s not surging forward.”
As president, Mr Bush was known as a more moderate Republican, which could mean his support is less valuable to Romney as the former Massachusetts governor courts conservatives. – (The New York Times)