Jeb Bush cast doubt on Sen. Marco Rubio’s (R-FL) odds in a general election contest against Hillary Clinton in a Sunday interview with Breitbart News, saying she would “scrape the bark off” him.
Bush’s comments, made during a Super Bowl party at a Manchester, New Hampshire bar, came in response to Rubio’s widely derided performance at ABC’s Republican presidential debate. Rubio was widely mocked for repeating a critique of President Barack Obama four times, nearly verbatim.
“To beat Hillary Clinton, we need someone that has a proven record,” Bush said. “We’re not going to beat her with an untested person. She will scrape the bark off a candidate that has never done anything. It’d be ugly.”
The former Florida governor piled on Rubio again during a Monday morning appearance on MSNBC, telling host Chuck Todd that the senator’s “scripted” delivery proved he lacks the “agility” and “leadership skills” to lead the country.
Rubio’s limited experience came under fire during Saturday’s debate as New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) skewered the first-term senator over his robotic performance and lack of credentials.
Sticking to the script is not a bug in Republican candidates, it’s a feature. The eventual GOP nominee will get his or her bark scraped very well by the eventual Democrat nominee
Jeb!: I want Clinton to “Scrape the Bark off” of me and not Rubio. I am just helping Rubio/Trump/Canadian.
Can I watch?
But the GOP base doesn’t want someone with a proven record. The Dem base doesn’t want any record from a Bush, so I guess that leaves you out in the cold.
First correct thing Jeb! has said in a week or two.