HOUSTON — Jeb Bush cheered his brother’s response to the Sept. 11 attacks and called him a caring, feeling “human being” — drawing a contrast with the stodgy reputations of the Democratic candidates he had defeated.

George W. Bush hailed his brother as a “fierce competitor,” an essential bridge to Latino voters and a chief executive of the highest order. “He knows how to manage an administration,” Mr. Bush told a gathering of donors and friends here, inside a sprawling hotel conference hall. “I have to believe eventually the American people will say, ‘Who’s had the experience necessary to be president?’ ”

Amid languishing poll numbers and wide-scale campaign upheaval, there is a lot that Jeb Bush’s supporters have to believe these days. But the 45-minute brotherly chat on Monday capped a two-day exercise in reassurances, barbecue and reminders that — at least for those gathered — the Bush name has retained its galvanizing charm.

Scheduled for months, the retreat also offered something approaching group therapy, days after Mr. Bush’s team announced across-the-board salary cuts and scaled-back operations in its Miami headquarters.