'Brother Jeb would make great president'

Washington, May 11: President George W Bush has said he thought his younger brother Jeb would make ''a great president'' but the two-term governor of Florida quickly dashed any hopes for a White House run in 2008.

''I have no idea what he's going to do. I've asked him that question myself. I truly don't think he knows,'' Bush said in an interview with Florida reporters posted on the St. Petersburg Times Website yesterday.

The president said he had pushed his ''independent minded'' brother fairly hard about his plans after leaving the governor's office next January. He predicted Jeb could have a ''very bright'' political future.

''I would like to see Jeb run at some point in time, but I have no idea if that's his intention or not,'' Bush said.

Asked if Jeb should run for president, Bush said, ''I think Jeb would be a great president. But it's up to Jeb to make a decision to run.'' Jeb Bush, 53, has said often over the past year he would not run for president in 2008 and he confirmed later on Wednesday that he had not changed his mind.

''I'm not running for president. I'm not running for the United States Senate. I'm trying to be a good governor,'' he told reporters at his annual hurricane conference in Fort Lauderdale.

''He (the president) was asked the standard question and he answered it in a very nice way. I think I know what's in my heart and I've expressed it pretty consistently over the last few months.''

REUTERS