Three days after one former Republican governor of Florida, Charlie Crist, endorsed Democrat Keith Fitzgerald for Congress, his predecessor, Republican Jeb Bush, endorsed the incumbent, U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan.

"I have known Vern Buchanan as a businessman and a Congressman," Bush said Friday in a statement released by Buchanan's campaign. "He is honest, independent and fighting every day in Washington to grow the economy, create jobs, control spending and strengthen Medicare.

"We need more people like Vern Buchanan in Congress -- a self-made businessman, not a career politician, Bush said.

While the Buchanan campaign dismissed the significance of Crist's endorsement of Fitzgerald -- after all, Crist is rumored to be considering running in 2014 as a Democrat for his old job -- it touted Bush's backing

"Jeb Bush is one of Florida's most respected public servants and policy makers," Buchanan, R-Sarasota, said in the statement. "He is a principled leader whose steady leadership helped reform the state's education system and improve the economy. I am honored to have Jeb's endorsement."

According to the Buchanan campaign, Bush received almost 59.4 percent of the vote in Manatee and Sarasota counties -- the core of the 16th Congressional District -- in his final race for governor in 2002.