MIAMI (AP) — The feud between Donald Trump and Jeb Bush appears to be intensifying.
Bush’s 2016 presidential campaign put out a video Tuesday that shows old clips of Trump talking more like a Democrat than a Republican.
And while campaigning in Miami on Tuesday, Bush said Trump only resorts to insults because he can’t talk about issues.
“He personalizes everything,” Bush said. “If you’re not totally in agreement with him, you’re an idiot, you’re stupid, you have no energy, blah, blah, blah. That’s what he does.”
Trump tweeted in response: “Yet another weak hit by a candidate with a failing campaign.”
The Bush campaign video features clips from interviews dating back to 1999 when Trump told NBC’s “Meet the Press” that “I’m pro-choice in every respect.” In the segments, he praises Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton as someone who would “do a good job in negotiating with Iran,” endorses a single-payer health system and says: “You would be shocked if I said that, in many cases, I probably identify more as a Democrat.”
The video and Bush’s sharper comments come as his poll numbers are down nationwide as well as in the key early voting states. Trump maintains a sizable lead over his rivals in those polls.
“All we did today was to put in his own words that this man is not a conservative,” Bush said. “He’s backed Nancy Pelosi. He’s given money to Hillary Clinton.”
He added: “If you look at his record and what he believes, he supports Democrats.”