Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster
Jeb Bush is in the race for “the long haul.”
Or at least that’s what the former Florida governor told NBC News reporter Peter Alexander during an interview this week. Bush brushed off questions about whether South Carolina would be his campaign’s last stand, saying he is doing well in the Palmetto State.
“The obituaries have been written probably once a week and, we’re in it for the long haul,” said Bush. “But we are going to do well here.”
Bush said he thinks Donald Trump has hijacked the Republican Party. Bush said he thinks that support is temporary, and said Trump “is not going to win the presidency.”
“This guy is not serious,” said Bush, according to a transcript of the interview. “In a serious dangerous time, we need a serious person with a steady hand to be president of the United States.”
Bush has spent the past week in South Caroling trying to rally support. On Monday, former President George W. Bush campaigned for his brother in the Palmetto State; and Barbara Bush is expected to hit the trail with Jeb Bush this week.
CNN reported that the former first lady is expected to arrive in South Carolina on Thursday and will stay through the primary.
Bush is in fourth place in South Carolina, according to polling averages compiled by RealClearPolitics. Bush told NBC News that he planned to go on to Nevada if he places fourth in South Carolina.
“This is a, this is a long haul process particularly you now the rules of the Republican Party set up this time,” he said.
Watch Jeb Bush’s interview with NBC News’ Peter Alexander.
