George W. Bush On Possible Jeb Bush 2016 Presidential Bid: ‘I Hope He Will Run’

Just because President Barack Obama hasn’t said he hopes Hillary Clinton will run in 2016, that hasn’t stopped his predecessor, George W. Bush, from saying he wants his brother, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, to run for office in the next general election.

In an interview with Parade magazine, the former president was asked about the prospect of his brother Jeb being the next commander-in-chief and if the country is ready for another Bush in the White House. “That’s for Jeb to figure out, you know what I mean? ... I would hope that people would judge [him], if Jeb were to run, on his merits and his track record. ... So I hope he will run.”

In March, the younger brother said in an interview on “Fox News Sunday” that, if he were to run in 2016, there would be no “Bush baggage” weighing him down, despite his brother’s low approval ratings.

“If I run for president, it's not because of something in my DNA that compels me to do it," Jeb said in the same Fox interview. “It would be that it's the right thing to do for my family, that the conditions are right and that I have something to offer.

"If I don't run, I have a blessed life," he added.

According to a recent Public Policy Polling survey, Jeb has a 30 percent favorable rating, 37 percent unfavorable rating and 33 percent who aren’t sure.

Other potential 2016 GOP candidates who’ve been talked about include New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal and Kentucky Senator Rand Paul.

Read the full interview in Parade here.