Donald Trump on Tuesday said former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush’s current position in the Republican presidential field is evidence enough that he isn’t as electable as he says he is.
Speaking to voters at a rally in North Augusta, S.C., the leading GOP candidate suggested Bush is mistaken if he thinks he can perform better against Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton in a general election matchup.
“Bush comes out and says, ‘Well I don’t think Trump can beat Hillary Clinton, but I can,'” Trump said while doing his best impression of his “low energy” opponent.
“Then why aren’t you beating me?” he charged. “Bush spent $44 or $45 million in New Hampshire. I spent $3 [million] and I won in a landslide against everybody.”
Trump, who found himself in a series of contentious exchanges with Bush during the eighth GOP debate last Saturday, claimed the “only reason” he continues to attack the Florida Republican on the campaign trail is because Bush and his Right to Rise super PAC have continued to attack him. “He spent $22 million in negative ads on me. He said all sorts of things [and] it’s all wrong stuff.”
Despite bragging about his poll numbers to the audience, particularly in comparison to Bush’s, the real estate mogul also cautioned his supporters against neglecting to vote for him in South Carolina’s Feb. 20 primary.
“We’re going to beat Hillary just like I’m beating all these guys,” he said of his competition. “Some big polls are going to come out today and tomorrow, but don’t even look at them.”
“Just go and vote,” Trump said, adding that his supporters should “assume that we’re behind.”
