RLINGTON, Va. - He is ranked No. 5 on People Magazine's Top 100 Eligible Bachelors list. He is part of a political dynasty: His grandfather was president and his uncle is trying to be one. And yesterday, he was greeted by the media like a rock star.
George Prescott Bush, the oldest son of Florida Governor Jeb Bush and his Mexican-born wife, Columba, spoke to the Young Hispanic Republican Association as part of his ''Countdown to Convention Tour,'' where he campaigned on behalf of his uncle, Governor George W. Bush of Texas.
While the young Bush's mission is to attract Hispanic and young voters, he spent most of his time speaking to the more than 40 reporters and photographers, who outnumbered the GOP attendees.
''We thought he would come in and have lunch,'' said Noe Garcia III, a board member of the association. ''There was so much media, it was amazing.''
Bush, a 24-year-old Rice University graduate, gave a two-minute speech about his uncle's plans for tax cuts and health care reform. He also said the Texas governor is trying to include minorities, who traditionally vote for Democrats.
''I think the Republican Party is going to start representing the emerging diversity of our country,'' he told the group. ''It's impressive that the Republican Party is starting to make inroads in this community, and it's up to us to continue this success.''
Last week, his uncle became the first Republican presidential candidate to speak to the NAACP since his father had in 1988.
George P. Bush, along with his sister and brother, was referred to as one of ''the little brown ones'' when his grandfather introduced him to President Reagan at the start of the Republican convention in 1988. Now he campaigns around the country and stars in bilingual television commercials on behalf of his uncle.
''Our generation definitely has a label of being apathetic, but I think a lot of young people would disagree with that,'' he said.
The Bush campaign hopes the younger Bush will fire up young voters to get to the polls, and his movie-star looks and suave demeanor certainly help.
''It's good because it's a new audience that you get to,'' said Mindy Tucker, a spokeswoman for the Bush campaign. ''It's another way to reach out to those who aren't typically involved in politics and bring them in to the presidential election this year.''
Susan Oglinsky, a 23-year-old student at George Mason University, said she was impressed with Bush and thought he was a good representative of the campaign. She added with a giggle, ''He's a definite hottie.''
Melissa Viana, 20, from Florida International University, said that while Bush is attractive, his message is what will move the younger generation to the polls.
''It takes a person like him to talk to young people like us to let us know what's going on in the election process,'' said Viana, who is a summer intern in Washington.
After his short speech, Bush shook a few hands before being whisked away for interviews. He faced what one reporter described as the ''rock-star media'' without a flinch.
''George P. Bush is very camera friendly and he is articulate and intelligent and when people see him he can get his message across,'' said the association's Garcia.
