George H.W. Bush Praises Romney for 2012

Former President George H.W. Bush says former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is currently his favorite potential Republican presidential contender.

When asked about potential 2012 candidates in an interview that aired on CNN's "Larry King Live" on Monday night, Mr. Bush said he would back his son Jeb Bush, the former governor of Florida, but the younger Bush is not interested in running.

"If you asked me who will the nominee be, I couldn't tell you," Mr. Bush told Larry King. "We like Mitt Romney. We know him well and like him very much."

Mr. Bush said he did not want to "kill him off" by suggesting Romney is a moderate candidate, but he said Romney is a "a reasonable guy, conservative fella, which is good. But I think he'd be a good president, a very good president."

The former president added he and his wife Barbara Bush have yet to meet other potential candidates, such as Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

Barbara Bush added that she thought Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal or Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour could make good candidates. Pundits have speculated over the possible presidential ambitions of both Barbour and Jindal.

Mrs. Bush added, "I like a lot of them, but I like people who feel you can respect other people's ideas."

In a segment of the interview that was released earlier, Mrs. Bush said that possible presidential contender Sarah Palin seems "very happy in Alaska." She added, "I hope she'll stay there."

A recent Quinnipiac poll showed that, out of a handful of potential 2012 GOP candidates, Romney fares the best against President Obama in a hypothetical match-up.

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Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com. You can read more of her posts here. Follow Hotsheet on Facebook and Twitter.

[lawkwfl]

Does HW and his old lady "George Washington" still think they are relevant?

[Reality-Checker]

It is strange how Romney led and oversaw health care reform as governor, and now wants to dismantle Democrats success for essentially doing the same thing on a national scale. It's like a police chief who succeeds in fighting organized crime running for president and telling the country that fighting organized crime on a national scale is a bad idea.

[kevjustice]

cons should love romney. the father of state mandated health care! ha ha ha ha!!!!

[culturechang]

And now the only thing left to seal Romney's fate is a Palin endorsement. Then, he is sure to loose.

[babooph]

The republican "problem" will be their platform-lies about 2 more lost wars .deficits for tax cuts to the rich & idiotic religion-all for a feudal state fiscally& socially...

[JEC1950]

Who cares, George. You thought your son would be a good president, and look where that got us! Please keep your opinions to yourself and Barbara. Romney was a horrible Governor, let's leave him where he is a "has-been".

[rickwarre]

"George H.W. Bush Praises Romney for 2012"

All the more reason not to vote for Romney

[rationall7]

I ciuld vote for Sarah if she was running to take Vanna White's job, after she proved that she could turn the correct lit board.

[lawkwfl]

At least Sarah can spell "could" correctly - seems you didn't proof your work. How about you ask Apple to create a "light up" keyboard? Genius.

[arizonacowgirl]

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1110/Beating_on_Romey.htm

"ties" Mitt Romney has to this situation, are relatives who married relatives of people involved. It is ridiculous to suggest he had anything to do with it. I can't choose MY family...and none of you can choose yours...and nobody can choose their family's families etc etc? ---

Who is the relative of the relative?

Only ties are relatives who married relatives?

Lets have a find The Relative of the Relative involved? contest.

We might not be able to choose our families, but we sure can chose the President, and it will not be Romney.

Who is the relative of the relatives? There sure seems to be some former Romney advisers and staff involved too!

Mitt flipping on involvement. break- ins, threats, harassment, ruining kids lives, and COVER-UP!

Romney will not be president. So, you big bad Mormon boys like to abuse women and kids, cover-up and then leave them homeless as you parade off to attend church on Sunday. Think the Romney and Skousen's names need to be in the mud for what you all have pulled.

[arizonacowgirl]

For the most part Mormons have contempt for the South. They have mocked it, made fun of the south for decades. But then Mormons murdered southern folks at Mountain Meadow and took blood oaths to do so.