Jeb Bush whacks NRSC for endorsing Crist

Jeb Bush raised some eyebrows yesterday when he joined the conservative attack against the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) for endorsing Gov. Charlie Crist over conservative favorite Marco Rubio for Senate in Florida.

“I think [Rubio] should be given a chance," Bush told the Lakewood ranch Republican Club. "I think that the idea that the national party would pick a winner a year and a half before an election is the wrong way to go.”

Some background: Crist is generally seen as the GOP's best hope for holding the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Mel Martinez (R). He's well known throughout the state, can raise more money than Rubio and is more moderate on social and economic issues.

But Rubio, the state House Speaker, engenders enthusiastic support from conservative activists. Those activists were incensed when the NRSC officially backed Crist.

So why is Bush, an establishment GOP figure if ever there was one, taking a swipe at the national party?

The most likely explanation is that Bush and Crist have never been close. As a conservative, Bush was not thrilled with Crist's support for the stimulus package and his fondness for cap-and-trade.

Bush hasn't done much to make his preference public so far. His son, Jeb Bush, Jr., has officially endorsed Rubio, and some see that as a proxy endorsement from the elder Jeb. But the former governor won't make much difference in the race unless he (a) officially endorses Rubio himself, or (b) uses his clout behind the scenes to help Rubio raise cash. Neither of those look likely at this point.