Outside the Beltway

Jeb Bush Endorses Mitt Romney, Calls On Republicans To Unite

Doug Mataconis · Wednesday, March 21, 2012 · 3 comments

Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, who foreswore his own run at the White House this year and has stayed on the sidelines in the primary race to day, has endorsed Mitt Romney for President in a statement that calls on the GOP to unite behind him:

Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush endorsed Mitt Romney after Romney’s lopsided win in Illinois Tuesday night. The former Florida Governor – a Republican heavyweight – called on members of the party to coalesce behind Romney.

“Congratulations to Governor Mitt Romney on his win last night and to all the candidates for a hard fought, thoughtful debate and primary season,” said Bush in a statement. “Primary elections have been held in thirty-four states, and now is the time for Republicans to unite behind Governor Romney and take our message of fiscal conservatism and job creation to all voters this fall.  I am endorsing Mitt Romney for our Party’s nomination.  We face huge challenges, and we need a leader who understands the economy, recognizes more government regulation is not the answer, believes in entrepreneurial capitalism and works to ensure that all Americans have the opportunity to succeed.”

It’s not entirely a surprise, of course, and in some sense it was surprising that Bush chose not to endorse Romney before the Florida primary. However, this is perhaps one of the biggest names to get behind Romeny in recent months and is likely to be only the first of many who will start echoing the call for party unity behind the man who is clearly going to be the nominee. Of course, Bush’s endorsement also takes off the table one of the pundit fantasy brokered convention candidates, not that it was ever actually going to happen.