Jeb Bush: Re-elect Pat Roberts to make America’s future bright (VIDEO)

Calling the mood of the country “the most pessimistic it’s ever been,” former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush urged Kansas voters to re-elect Sen. Pat Roberts to take back control of the U.S. Senate for Republicans and end the gridlock in Washington, D.C.

“He will not let you down,” Bush said Monday at a Roberts fundraiser in Wichita, “and the greatness of America will be restored.”

Bush appeared with Roberts before about 160 people at a luncheon at Murfin Stables, 14515 E. 13th St. U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, also attended the event but did not speak.

Bush did not mention Roberts’ opponent in the Nov. 4 general election, independent candidate Greg Orman.

Bush said the nation’s future will be bright if Republicans get control of the Senate and end the gridlock in Washington that Bush said was created by President Obama.

“This has to stop,” Bush said, “and if it does, the country will take off.”

Bush said Americans for the first time no longer believe their children will have more opportunities than they had, and most think the nation still is in a recession. Student loan debt and health care issues are more reasons the country is pessimistic, he said.

“This pessimism that exists makes it harder and harder for us to be able to move forward as a nation, so I think it is really important that we regain control of the Senate and show that conservatives and Republicans can govern, can lead, can offer a set of proposals that will lift our spirits, because they’re tangible,” Bush said. “Fixing a few big things will make this country grow like nobody’s business.”

Bush said that can’t happen with Senate leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., in office and with Reid and Obama seeking to keep all the power in Washington.

“It will not happen unless we gain control of the Senate and then run a campaign in 2016 that is hopeful and optimistic, where people can have a chance to earn success again,” said Bush, who often is mentioned as a potential presidential candidate in 2016.

Bush did not speak with reporters after the event.

Roberts said later that Bush’s appearance shows that the Republican Party is united in an effort to take back the Senate and stop Reid and the Obama agenda. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and former Alaska Republican Gov. Sarah Palin also have made appearances on Roberts’ behalf in Kansas.

Roberts said he had reached out to tea party candidate Milton Wolf after he defeated Wolf in the August primary, but he hasn’t heard from Wolf yet. Roberts said conservatives understand the issue is taking back the Senate and ending gridlock no matter who is the candidate.

This story was originally published September 29, 2014 at 2:59 PM with the headline "Jeb Bush: Re-elect Pat Roberts to make America’s future bright (VIDEO)."