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WASHINGTON (AP) - Mitt Romney opposed the governments rescue of U.S. automakers. So did Jeb Bush.

Both worked in finance and backed the Wall Street bailout. Both are advocates of tax cuts that Democrats contend only benefit the wealthy and big business.

While the first actual votes of the next presidential campaign may be a year away, Democrats already are drawing such comparisons between the former Florida governor and the GOPs 2012 White House nominee and they dont consider them flattering.

Democrats are unwilling to let Bush define himself as a reformer who aims to close the gap between the rich and poor, so they are trying to paint him as this campaigns Romney. The ex-Massachusetts governor struggled in 2012 against criticism related to his work in private equity and his portrayal by President Barack Obamas allies as a cold-hearted plutocrat.

We dont need to try to show that Jeb is like Romney. He pretty much is Romney, said Eddie Vale, vice president of American Bridge 21st Century, a liberal group set up to conduct opposition research on Republicans. When it comes to any ideas or policies, hes the same as Romney.

That line of criticism was noticeable this past week after Bush gave his first major policy speech as a potential presidential candidate. His remarks to the Detroit Economic Club emphasized an upbeat economic message and touched on overhauling the nations immigration system and trying to improve the lives of children underserved by public schools.

Democrats countered by circulating the transcript of a 2012 interview in which Bush cited his opposition to the auto bailout. In the interview, Bush said the auto rescue, a key issue in Michigan, was driven by politics and he noted the Obama administrations role in shuttering car dealerships and providing the United Auto Workers union with an equity stake in Chrysler.

Obamas team successfully used that bailout as a wedge against Romney in Michigan and Ohio, repeatedly referring to a 2008 Romney op-ed with the headline, Let Detroit Go Bankrupt. Although Romney did not write the headline and advocated a managed bankruptcy for the industry, it created the impression that he was willing to forgo thousands of U.S. auto jobs.

Bushs early approach to his potential campaign signals a desire to avoid such pitfalls, as well as Romneys most notable gaffe his behind-closed-door dismissal of the 47 percent of Americans who, he said, dont pay income taxes.

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Democrats To Hit Bush With Romney Comparison