Jeb Bush says yes to CPAC

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) will speak for the first time at this year's Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), a regular stop for Republican presidential hopefuls.

The move is a sign that Bush is seeking a more public role within the GOP, though it's unclear whether he's more interested in playing an elder-statesman role or in running for president.

While Bush has been invited to speak at previous CPAC events, this is the first time he's accepted the offer.

"We are pleased to announce that my friend Governor Jeb Bush will be a featured speaker at CPAC 2013," American Conservative Union Chairman Al Cardenas said in a statement. "We look forward to welcoming Governor Jeb Bush to the CPAC stage for the first time in March."

Bush has been increasingly vocal in recent years about reaching out to minorities, and he was critical of the way some Republicans discussed immigration during the last election cycle. He's also a well-known advocate for education reform, which he made a key issue during his time in office.

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