Ken Mehlman has a history with Florida, notably 37 days spent in Tallahassee during the 2000 election debacle, deep ties to the Bush family and a vast knowledge of national politics.

On Tuesday, Mehlman gave a resounding endorsement to former Gov. Jeb Bush.

Just don’t ask Mehlman if that means Bush is going to run for president in 2016, or for any opinions on the matter of the recent election or future contests.

“I’ve had the fortunate life to have known the last four presidents, personally, to have known a lot of world leaders, a lot of elected officials at the state and federal level, and I believe there is no one more able, more principled or committed and a better man than Jeb Bush,” Mehlman told a lunch crowd at the Economic Club of Florida at the Leon County Civic Center.

“He is a fantastic man and I really have appreciated the opportunity to work with him over the years. For those of you who were involved in supporting him, I say thank you. He did a great job for the state and he’s still doing a great job on the educational front.”

Mehlman, who was the campaign manager for President George W. Bush in both 2000 and 2004, and served from 2005 to 2007 as the chairman of the Republican National Committee, remained adamant after his speech -- now as the head of public affairs for the New York-based multinational private equity firm Kohlberg, Kravis and Roberts -- that he is retired from politics.

“I’m happy to be out of politics and no longer commenting on politics,” Mehlman said while commenting on politics. “I don’t need to do this anymore.”



Reach Jim Turner at jturner@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 215-9889.