Jeb Bush says GOP Senate would 'fix a few things'

WICHITA, Kan. - Potential 2016 Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush weighed in to a key midterm election race on Monday, telling a Kansas fund-raiser for struggling Sen. Pat Roberts that the incumbent must be reelected so the GOP can take control of the Senate and "fix a few things" in Washington.

The former Florida governor told about 180 supporters that Roberts, who is facing an unexpectedly strong challenge from an independent candidate, would not let them down if reelected, and a GOP Senate would solve problems.

"This is the most pessimistic America has ever been," Bush told a $100-a-plate fund-raiser, adding that pessimism makes it hard to move forward as a nation.

Americans are feeling negative because their son or daughter has graduated for college with student loan debt and cannot find a job, or they have seen their health insurance dropped or work hours cut because of the health-care reform act.

Bush said progressive politicians believe they can regulate and tax to prosperity for a select group of people while "the rest of us suffer."

Republicans are scrambling to save the 78-year-old Roberts from defeat in a state that has elected only GOP senators since 1932. A loss in Kansas would make it harder for the party to make a net gain of six seats for a Senate majority in President Obama's last two years in office.

Unlike other potential 2016 presidential contenders, Bush kept a relatively low public profile for much of the year. But he has stepped up his fund-raising and campaigning for GOP candidates as the election approaches. He is appearing Tuesday in Arkansas with the GOP candidate for governor there, Asa Hutchinson.

Roberts is battling independent candidate Greg Orman after the Democratic candidate withdrew from the race. Roberts narrowly survived a bruising primary against a tea party-backed candidate.