FILE - In this Feb. 26, 2013 file photo, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush speaks in Austin, Texas. Jeb Bush has long resisted pressure from supporters to run for president. Now the former Florida governor is signaling that he’s at least open to the idea, a shift that comes as he promotes a new book and as a divided Republican Party struggles to right itself. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
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FILE - In this Feb. 26, 2013 file photo, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush speaks in Austin, Texas. Jeb Bush has long resisted pressure from supporters to run for president. Now the former Florida governor is signaling that he’s at least open to the idea, a shift that comes as he promotes a new book and as a divided Republican Party struggles to right itself. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
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FILE - In this Feb. 26, 2013, file photo, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush talks with the media following his address on education to the Texas Business Leadership Council in Austin, Texas. Bush writes in a new book that the nation needs to completely overhaul its immigration policies but cautions against providing a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants, a position that puts him at odds with some Senate reformers within his own party. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
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FILE - In this Sept. 17, 2012 photo, George P. Bush speaks with Florida State University students before beginning a bus tour in Tallahassee, Fla. A Texas official on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012 said Bush, nephew of former President George W. Bush, has made a campaign filing that is required for someone to run for office in his home state. (AP Photo/Brendan Farrington, File)
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Chairman of the Republican National Committee Reince Priebus speaks to delegates during an abbreviated session the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., on Monday, Aug. 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
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Chairman of the Republican National Committee Reince Priebus speaks to delegates gathered for the abbreviated opening session of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., on Monday, Aug. 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
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Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton arrive at the ceremonial swearing-in for President Barack Obama at the U.S. Capitol during the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
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Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton speak with former President Jimmy Carter at the ceremonial swearing-in for President Barack Obama at the U.S. Capitol during the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
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Former President Jimmy Carter arrives with his wife Rosalynn at the ceremonial swearing-in for President Barack Obama at the U.S. Capitol during the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Jeb Bush: Political reporters are 'crack addicts'
WASHINGTON (
AP) — Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush on Sunday likened political reporters to "crack addicts" and "heroin addicts" during a tour of morning talk shows that
drew repeated questions about the still-distant 2016 presidential election.
Bush, capping a media-heavy week that sparked chatter about a presidential campaign for a third member of his family, tried to keep the conversation focused on his book "Immigration Wars." But as Bush wrapped up a conversation with NBC's David Gregory," he likened journalists and their questions about the 2016 campaign to drug addicts.
"Who's the hottest Florida politician right now? Is it you or Marco Rubio?" Gregory asked, referring to Rubio, a senator who is also a potential GOP contender. "Who are we more likely to see in the White House?"
"Man, you guys are crack addicts. You really are obsessed with all this politics," Bush replied.
The "Meet the Press" host interrupted, saying he'd been called a lot of things, but never a crack addict.
"OK, heroin addict. Is that better?" shot back Bush, the son of former President George H.W. Bush and brother of former President George W. Bush.
"We've got big challenges, and Marco Rubio, to his credit, is working on those. And he deserves a lot of credit for it, and I'm very proud of him," Jeb Bush said of his potential rival.
After Bush left the Florida governor's office in 2007, some urged him to jump into the 2012 race against President Barack Obama. But his brother's low approval ratings could have dragged him down, and there seemed little interest in a national campaign.
But with Republicans looking for a new message and messenger, Jeb Bush is signaling he's open to the possibility.
"I'm not saying yes. I'm just not saying no," Bush told NBC News last week.
Speaking Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union," Bush said, "When you asked me before 2012 — Was I going to run in 2012? — and I said no, I went through the process and decided it wasn't appropriate."
"Now, I've decided to defer any consideration of it until the proper time to make those kind of considerations, which is out, you know, more than a year from now, for sure," he said.
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