Elder George Bush Backs Romney

It's like an endorsement-lite: George HW Bush tells the Houston Chronicle that "I think Mitt Romney is the best choice for us." But, political semantics alert, the elder Bush added that his praise does not constitute an official endorsement, at least for now. He called Romney the "most electable" because of his "stability, experience, principles," adding that he's not a "bomb-thrower." (Romney said the praise meant a lot to him and called Bush one of his personal heroes, notes AP.)

Bush chose his words carefully, says the Chronicle, and dished out only tempered criticism of the other candidates. Gingrich: "I'm not his biggest advocate." Fellow Texan Rick Perry, with whom the Bush clan has had testy relations: “I like Perry, but he doesn’t seem to be going anywhere; he’s not surging forward.” Ron Paul: "I just don't believe (he) can get the nomination." (More George HW Bush stories.)