Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) quickly praised Mitt Romney as a “patriot” in response to the former Massachusetts governor’s announcement on Friday that he would not run for president a third time.
Bush, who’s taken steps toward running for president, including poaching some donors and staffers from Romney’s corner of the Republican world, said few have “worked harder to elect Republicans across the country” than Romney.
“Though I’m sure today’s decision was not easy, I know that Mitt Romney will never stop advocating for renewing America’s promise through upward mobility, encouraging free enterprise and strengthening our national defense,” Bush said in the Facebook post.
Bush and Romney recently held a private one-on-one meeting in Utah.
Here’s Bush’s full statement:
Mitt Romney has been a leader in our party for many years. There are few people who have worked harder to elect Republicans across the country than he has. Though I’m sure today’s decision was not easy, I know that Mitt Romney will never stop advocating for renewing America’s promise through upward mobility, encouraging free enterprise and strengthening our national defense. Mitt is a patriot and I join many in hoping his days of serving our nation and our party are not over. I look forward to working with him to ensure all Americans have a chance to rise up.
Columba and I wish Mitt, Ann and their entire family the very best.
