Republican presidential candidate and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said Tuesday that he was not quitting the 2016 GOP race, despite his lackluster performance in several recent polls.
GOP rival Donald Trump said early Tuesday that Bush should do what Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker did and “absolutely” drop out. But when asked on CNN whether he was quitting the race, Bush immediately pushed back.
“Ha, no. I mean, do we have to talk about Donald Trump? No. I’m not quitting,” Bush replied Wednesday morning on CNN’s “New Day.” “He’s entertaining. He’s fun. He says really funny things in the breaks, in the debate. But I’m running for President of the United States, and it’s a serious endeavor.”
He continued: “I know how to win. I’ve done it. I actually know how to govern, which is going to be an attribute as we get closer to the election.”
Bush also added that he was running for president “with joy” and that there are “fun parts” of doing so.
“I’m the best-qualified guy to be president. If you’re comparing me to Donald Trump, I’m the most qualified to be president,” Bush said. “And it’s not pushing people down when I say that. And if it makes you feel better, everyone on the Republican stage is better than Hillary Clinton.”
“That’s a low bar, though,” he added.
Bush’s numbers have plummeted in numerous polls taken both before and after last week’s third Republican debate. In a RealClearPolitics average of polls, Bush is at 6.3 percentage, putting him fifth in the fray. In mid-July, he had 17 percent.
