Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said Thursday there’s still a good chance that Republicans are headed for a contested convention, and that GOP front-runner Donald Trump won’t emerge as the nominee.
“I think there’s a possibility that he won’t get 50 percent on the first ballot, and if he can’t do that, there’s a whole lot of people that don’t believe he’s the proper guy,” the ex-White House hopeful said of Trump on CNN.
Bush, who led the charge against Trump when he was running against him, said the billionaire is “not a serious person,” and claimed Ted Cruz, who he’s since endorsed, is the likeliest candidate to challenge him for the nomination at the convention in July.
“He’s behind, but after the first ballot anything could happen,” Bush said of the Texas senator’s chances. “I believe that the likely occurrence if Donald Trump doesn’t win the nomination on the first ballot is that Ted Cruz is the only other candidate that is likely to win the nomination.”
The former governor also commended Cruz for choosing another ex-White House hopeful, Carly Fiorina, as his running mate.
“Picking a candidate that is talented, tough – she takes on Trump really well I think and she takes on Hillary Clinton really well as well. I think it was a smart move by Ted Cruz,” he said.
Asked if it was the “right pick” by a senator who’s trailing Trump nationally and faces a tough battle for the nomination, Bush said “I do.”
“I’m impressed with her,” he said.
