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Jeb Bush begs town hall attendees to ‘please clap’

In contrast to the throngs of Donald Trump supporters who appear to applaud at the drop of a hat, Bush appeared to beg for applause after his latest speech to New Hampshire voters. It’s “the end of the road for the Bush dynasty” if he can’t pull out a second place finish in New Hampshire’s February 9 primary, said Boston University political scientist Tom Whalen.

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Bush, the former governor of Florida from 1999 to 2007, said his previous record in government and business was reason enough to show off his leadership skills.

Bush has hovered around 10 percent in New Hampshire polls, in a clump alongside fellow governors John Kasich and Chris Christie, as well as Texas Senator Ted Cruz.

That he’s polling in the single digits now tells as much of a story about Bush the candidate as it does about the rest of the field.

Jeb Bush grew emotional Thursday night at the town hall with his mother by his side when he talked about his “idyllic” father, whose health, at 91, makes it hard for him to go out in public.

Donald Trump has a 10-point lead among GOP presidential candidates, with Florida Sen. “I think [Bush] really staked his candidacy on New Hampshire”.

“As a speaker of the (Florida) House, he managed a staff of about 40 people”, Bush said in the interview Friday.

Jacquelyn Martin/AP Jeb Bush brings his mother, former First Lady Barbara Bush, to speak at a campaign rally in New Hampshire. Bush’s super PAC has spent far more than he has.

When Jeb Bush entered the presidential race, he had a vision of a transformative candidacy that would remake the Republican Party, attracting young people and minorities – especially Latinos – with a vibrant new image based on solid conservative principles. He can look ahead to potentially strong showings in Nevada and SC later this month, and then in the “SEC primary” on March 1.

“I’m not getting in a spitting match with him”. “I jokingly say that when we were growing up in Midland, in Houston, that mom was fortunate not to have a child-abuse hotline available”, Jeb quipped, according to Politico.

New Hampshire voters routinely ask Jeb Bush about his parents, who spend part of the year in neighboring ME, and like to share stories and photos from meeting them in the past.

“He’s attacking me”, Bush said. I don’t think – if you have a sister or a brother you’re probably not the same.

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Wright said she found “a little touchy” his response to a man in the audience who took issue with Bush’s use of the phrase “radical Islamic terrorism”.

Jeb Bush's secret weapon in New Hampshire: His mom