Jeb Bush Not Hispanic: 'A Mistake' Made in Florida Voter Form

Potential Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush described it as a "mistake" when he listed "Hispanic" as his race in the Florida voter registration application in the Miami-Dade County in 2009.

"My mistake! Don't think I've fooled anyone," Bush posted on Twitter after the New York Times reported about it on April 6.

Bush made the tweet after his son, Jeb Jr., posted, "LOL - come on dad, think you checked the wrong box #HonoraryLatino."

The newspaper published Bush's voter registration form, which he signed on March 5, 2009.

It said when Bush listed "Hispanic," he "may have become a bit carried away."

"It's unclear where the paperwork error was made. The governor's family certainly got a good laugh out of it," said Bush spokeswoman Kristy Campbell, according to USA Today.

The New York Times said that Bush has "strong credentials" for him to appeal to Hispanic voters.

Besides speaking in fluent Spanish, his wife, Columba, was born in Mexico. For two years, Bush lived in Venezuela.

Bush was born in Texas and became a governor of Florida, two states with big Hispanic voters.

The New York Times said according to Carolina Lopez, deputy supervisor of elections for Miami-Dade, voters must submit hard copies of forms with a signature before receiving a voter information card.

It said it got Bush's application form from the Miami-Dade County Elections Department.

"While Mr. Bush, a likely Republican presidential candidate, may have made a mistake, confusion over heritage is no laughing matter during a campaign season," the New York Times reported.

It said during the Senate campaign in 2012, Elizabeth Warrent was accused of misrepresenting herself as Native American while Senator Ted Cruz, who announced his presidential candidacy, was forced to explain his eligibility to run.

Democrats criticized Bush's mistake. The Florida Democratic Party said Bush might have committed a felony.