The Republican primary is officially in chaos now with Rick Santorum surging and topping Mitt Romney in some national polls. The former Pennsylvania senator is even leading in Romney's home state of Michigan, but some in the GOP establishment aren't quite sure Santorum is presidential material. One anonymous GOP senator now tells ABC News that if Romney fails to win the Michigan primary he'll publicly call for a new candidate. His preferred choice? Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, of course.
"If Romney cannot win Michigan, we need a new candidate," the senator told ABC News.
ABC News says the senator has requested anonymity but describes him as prominent and, so far, neutral in the race.
"He'd be too damaged," he says of Romney, "if he can't even win in Michigan, where his family is from, where he grew up."
The senator also thinks both Santorum and Gingrich would lose 35 states.
When asked who he'd like to see get into the race, he says point-blank: "Jeb Bush."
Of course, Jeb Bush has been mentioned as a potential presidential candidate even before his brother left office, but Bush has said time and time and time and time again he would not seek the nomination in 2012.
In any event, it's an unlikely scenario that would probably involve a controversial and brokered convention.
As for the identity of the anonymous senator? Marco Rubio would fit the bill, but 28 male GOP senators remain neutral in the race, about a third of which we could describe as somewhat "prominent." Perhaps we'll find out who it was if Santorum manages to hold onto his lead in Michigan.
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