Jeb Bush: GOP Will Lose if Midterms About Trump's Character

Jeb Bush said if November's midterms are about the character of President Donald Trump instead of his economic policies, Republicans are in for trouble, the former Florida governor told USA Today.

"If the election is nationalized and it's not about the economy, then we'll lose," Bush told USA Today. "If it's about the economy and it's driven by state or district interest, incumbents can do well."

Bush, one of many candidates who tangled with Trump in the last GOP primary, is heartened by Trump's tax cuts and rollbacks of business regulations, but is at the same time disheartened by Trump's tactics and tweets.

"The character of the guy and the (turnover) and fighting, and just the constant chaos around his presidency that is self-inflicted has made it hard for him," Bush told USAT. "I want the president to succeed. I don't think he will succeed if he continues on this path."

The key for Republicans: beat the drum on the tax cuts.

"Every business that announces a job increase, you can make a pretty compelling case that it's tax reform and regulatory reform that was a catalyst to make that happen," Bush told USAT.

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