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A while back, Jeb was caught advocating for Romney with his fellow-governors. Some of Jeb's people were reported going to work for Romney, though that might just be finding a new political job. Some of W.'s big fundraisers also got on board with Romney early.

Naturally, our president will not take sides publicly. It would be resented and, beyond that, being the man that he is, he would know that Romney doesn't need that kind of help from him and that winning the office is that much sweeter if you do it standing on your own two legs. A president doesn't want to issue too many IOUs on the way to the Oval Office. Any of these old political families know this.

Beyond that, while the media rarely mentions it and focuses on how Bush attended Andover and Yale, Bush is himself a Harvard MBA, just like Romney. Romney is also Harvard JD. Near the top of his class in both, dual simultaneous degree. Now, at Harvard, guys like Romney who can excel in two difficult majors at once, are the smartest guys in the room. Bush knows plenty of these folks.

One of the Romney advantages is Ha-a-aava'd. I think the Harvard alumni might be hungry to notch their presidential scorecard in '08. And that is something that represents tens of billions in cash in corporate America and in the old money families.

If it's Yalie Hillary vs. Harvard Mitt, who do you think a Harvard man is going to back? These people are cynical about parties anyway but they are Harvard alumni.

Given Romney's excellent speeches on the WOT and his raw intelligence and his clear family values that are so much like Bush's, who else would W. want to have there to finish the job in Iraq? Giuliani, the hothead prima donna? McStain, the decaying maverick? And Fred Thompson, if he runs, would make sound choices but I think Bush might conclude Fred's health isn't up to the sixteen hour days because that's one reason why Dick Cheney can't run either.

Romney's not inevitable. But he's playing a game no one can ignore. He's the guy to watch.

I can add some details to what FReeper George W. Bush has already provided.

While President George W. Bush and Laura will not publicly endorse any candidate, Laura has made some supportive comments in a filmed interview about Romney's qualifications and their friendship with Mitt and Ann and statements about Romney's religion not being an issue for them. Similar statements from Barbara Bush and former President George H.W. Bush were made in a recent filmed interview I've seen.

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush has steered several of his allies and former staff members to Mitt Romney. Another of the president's brothers, Neil, and his sister, Dorothy, have helped Romney raise money.

The Romney campaign gained the support of the influential Lindner family in Ohio. For the past 20 years, the Lindners have helped fund the campaigns of President George H.W. Bush and President George W. Bush. The head of the family, Carl H. Lindner Jr., will serve as the honorary co-chairman of the Ohio finance committee and the co-chairman of the national finance committee. S. Craig Lindner is co-chairman of Romney's Ohio fund-raising effort.

The Texas Statewide Finance Committee for Romney includes the following people among several others:

Five Bush Pioneers • raised more than $100,000 each for Bush-Cheney
Louis Beecherl, Jr. • North Texas Finance Chair for Bush-Cheney 2004
David Jones • Member of the George Bush Presidential Library Foundation Advisory Council
Logan Walters • Former Assistant to George W. Bush
Jim McGrath • staff writer and editor for the White House in the Executive Office of President George H. W. Bush, Deputy Press Secretary for George W. Bush’s re-election campaign for Governor of Texas in 1998 and current speechwriter for George H. W. Bush