First there was Dana Carvey. Then Will Ferrell. Now Beck Bennett.
Is Jeb Bush the latest Bush to run for President who will be defined by his Saturday Night Live alter-ego?
The biggest debate-related development from last Saturday wasn’t Bernie Sanders’ apology or Hillary Clinton’s mysterious disappearance; it was the SNL cold open’s brutal treatment of the interaction between Bush (Bennett) and Donald Trump (Darrell Hammond) at the most recent GOP debate. While Bush/Bennett tries to psyche himself up, Trump/Hammond easily dismisses the feeble attacks from “Jeborah.”
But now, after SNL’s depiction, Bush’s team is working overtime to reclaim the narrative.
In the campaign’s new video, “The Only One,” Bush’s team argues that his willingness to stand up to Trump is a sign of strength, not desperation. The ad features footage of TV political pundits observing that Bush seemed to be “the only one willing to take on Donald Trump.” Bush is contrasted with Marco Rubio, Chris Christie, and Ted Cruz, who are unwilling to attack Trump, or have even expressed support for Trump.
The ad also takes shots at Trump’s appreciation for praise he received from Russia’s Vladimir Putin, and his previous support for universal health care.
And while they can’t coordinate, Jeb Bush’s super PAC Right to Rise is also echoing the campaign’s message. The super PAC’s new ad, “The Shows,” specifically goes after Trump for saying he gets his military advice from watching “the shows.” It uses Bush’s line from the debate, “I don’t if that’s Saturday morning or Sunday morning.”
Despite the campaign’s strategy to double down on the Trump attacks, it isn’t clear that it will work. According to a focus group conducted by Republican pollster Frank Luntz, it was Trump who won the exchange in the eyes of Republican primary voters.
At this point, trailing so far behind Donald Trump, Bush probably identifies most closely with Jon Lovitz’s Michael Dukakis: “I can’t believe I’m losing to this guy.”
Is Jeb Bush the latest Bush to run for President who will be defined by his Saturday Night Live alter-ego?
The biggest debate-related development from last Saturday wasn’t Bernie Sanders’ apology or Hillary Clinton’s mysterious disappearance; it was the SNL cold open’s brutal treatment of the interaction between Bush (Bennett) and Donald Trump (Darrell Hammond) at the most recent GOP debate. While Bush/Bennett tries to psyche himself up, Trump/Hammond easily dismisses the feeble attacks from “Jeborah.”
Doubling Down on Trump Attacks
Tuesday night appeared to be a different story than the one told on Saturday. Within hours of the debate’s end, Jeb Bush’s campaign team had already rushed to declare victory, touting Bush’s attacks on Trump as the #ChaosCandidate.But now, after SNL’s depiction, Bush’s team is working overtime to reclaim the narrative.
In the campaign’s new video, “The Only One,” Bush’s team argues that his willingness to stand up to Trump is a sign of strength, not desperation. The ad features footage of TV political pundits observing that Bush seemed to be “the only one willing to take on Donald Trump.” Bush is contrasted with Marco Rubio, Chris Christie, and Ted Cruz, who are unwilling to attack Trump, or have even expressed support for Trump.
The ad also takes shots at Trump’s appreciation for praise he received from Russia’s Vladimir Putin, and his previous support for universal health care.
And while they can’t coordinate, Jeb Bush’s super PAC Right to Rise is also echoing the campaign’s message. The super PAC’s new ad, “The Shows,” specifically goes after Trump for saying he gets his military advice from watching “the shows.” It uses Bush’s line from the debate, “I don’t if that’s Saturday morning or Sunday morning.”
Despite the campaign’s strategy to double down on the Trump attacks, it isn’t clear that it will work. According to a focus group conducted by Republican pollster Frank Luntz, it was Trump who won the exchange in the eyes of Republican primary voters.
At this point, trailing so far behind Donald Trump, Bush probably identifies most closely with Jon Lovitz’s Michael Dukakis: “I can’t believe I’m losing to this guy.”