Jeb Bush: "I Will Not Vote For Donald Trump"
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush announced he has no plans on voting for Donald Trump in November.
The announcement comes just days after both Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Ohio Gov. John Kasich bowed out of the GOP presidential race, all but clearing the way for Trump.
"There is no doubt that he successfully tapped into the deep sense of anger and frustration so many Americans around the country rightfully feel today," he wrote on his official Facebook page.
Bush congratulated Trump on securing his place as the Republican Party's presumptive nominee.
But he went on to say, "Trump has not demonstrated that temperament or strength of character. He has not displayed a respect for the Constitution. And, he is not a consistent conservative. These are all reasons why I cannot support his candidacy."
Sen. Lindsey Graham was more direct.
"I just can't go where Donald Trump would take us. I don't think he is qualified to be commander in chief. I will support every other Republican in the country," he said.
Bush and Graham did sign a Republican National Committee loyalty pledge stating they would support the 2016 presidential nominee, no matter who.
Here is the text of the RNC loyalty pledge that Lindsey Graham and Jeb Bush both signed: pic.twitter.com/LoVcVvfLT0
— Sopan Deb (@SopanDeb) May 6, 2016
Though the consequences of breaching the pledge are unclear.
Bush also said he would not vote for Hillary Clinton, calling her "an untrustworthy liberal politician."
He said a vote for Clinton essential embark the United States on a "third term of the disastrous foreign and economic policy agenda of Barack Obama."
And the list of Republicans now saying they won't support Trump for president is growing.
At the local level, Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Congressman Carlos Curbelo and former Sen. Mel Martinez have added their names to the Never Trump list.
Nationally, it was Republican Speaker of the House Paul Ryan's Trump rebuke that opened the floodgates.
"Paul Ryan? I don't know what happened," Trump told supporters in Omaha, Nebraska Friday.
He was caught off guard when Ryan said he could not endorse the presumptive nominee.
"He was congratulating me on doing so well. I figured routinely he'd be behind it and he the other day just did a big surprise," Trump said.
The republican chair is suddenly having to play the role of peacemaker.
"I'll talk to Paul and we'll try to work on this," Reince Priebus.
Evidently, he was successful. Trump and Speaker Ryan will meet next week in D.C.
Ryan tweeted that he was looking forward to it.
I've invited @realDonaldTrump for a meeting with GOP leaders next week, and I look forward to the discussion.
— Paul Ryan (@PRyan) May 6, 2016
Trump did get some GOP support Friday from former Vice President Dick Cheney, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and from former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole.
Bob Dole announces support for Trump candidacy: pic.twitter.com/aLwFqL1JsG
— Sopan Deb (@SopanDeb) May 6, 2016
For more on Campaign 2016, click here.
