Jeb Bush Staying Silent in Fla.

Mitt Romney has been racking up endorsements in Florida but the state's two most prominent Republicans are staying silent. Sen. Marco Rubio says he won't be endorsing a candidate and Jeb Bush has failed to join the party establishment in backing Mitt Romney against Newt Gingrich. Romney has been doing his best to win the popular former governor's endorsement but an offer to make him national co-chairman of his campaign was declined, insiders tell the New York Times.

"Of course, everyone wants him to endorse,” a Romney campaign official says. “But I think Jeb looks at his endorsement as one where he wants the people of Florida to study the issues, work hard and make an educated decision.” Bush's silence has sparked speculation that he may still be considering a White House bid of his own someday, and doesn't want to alienate conservatives by going against Gingrich. At the Alfalfa Club dinner in Washington Saturday night, Jeb was there with both Georges when he was nominated as the club's joke candidate for president. (More Election 2012 stories.)