Jeb Bush affectionately nicknames supporter after deadly hurricane, flubs Tamir Rice question
Wednesday night wasn't so good for Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush. Hours after the Bush campaign defended its decision to scrap $3 million worth of TV ad buys in Iowa and South Carolina so it can send more staffers to the early voting states, Bush himself took the stage at Hudson's Smokehouse in Lexington, South Carolina. His crowd of about 100 had been warmed up by local state Sen. Katrina Shealy (R), and Bush tried to lighten the mood by nicknaming her after one of the biggest, deadliest hurricanes in U.S. history:
On the Katrina nickname, here is the full quote from Bush after he was introduced by state Sen. Katrina Shealy pic.twitter.com/rU93uYnkZT
— Ashley Killough (@KilloughCNN) December 31, 2015
Hurricane Katrina caused at least 1,245 deaths — including 14 in Bush's home state of Florida — destroyed much of New Orleans, and is viewed as one of the worst moments of his brother George W. Bush's presidency. Shealy, for what it's worth, later told CNN's Ashley Killough that she found the nickname "endearing" and "sweet." ABC News' Candace Smith later asked Bush about the widely publicized police shooting of 12-year-old Tamir Rice in Cleveland — the two officers involved had escaped indictment by a grand jury in the city on Monday, two days earlier. Bush replied that "Chicago has a lot of work to do to rebuild trust."
Asked Jeb about Tamir Rice today. He initially responded by saying that Chicago has a lot of work to do. Transcript: pic.twitter.com/rHqYfacGEU
— Candace Smith (@CandaceSmith_) December 31, 2015
When Smith noted that the shooting happened in Cleveland, Bush replied: "Oh, I'm sorry. My bad."