UPDATE (5:15 pm, EST): The Bush campaign reached out to TheDC and provided the following statement, as well as video of the below-mentioned exchange:
It was clear Governor Bush was cracking a joke with the audience, who laughed and enjoyed the humor. It was a charming moment, which was not reflected in a snarky comment by the New York Times.
WATCH:
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush was forced to beg attendees to applaud after delivering an anticipated crowd-pleaser at a Tuesday campaign stop in New Hampshire.
While discussing his role as a potential commander in chief, Bush said “I won’t be out here blowharding, talking a big game without backing it up,” reports The New York Times.
“Please clap,” he continued in a “defeated” response to the crickets, before the crowd laughed — and then, finally clapped.
According to Real Clear Politics, Bush is polling at 9 percent among New Hampshire voters. He received 2.8 percent of the vote in Monday’s Iowa Republican caucus.