2016 in SC: Jeb Bush holds telephone town hall

Jeb Bush, the leader in recent South Carolina polls for the 2016 GOP presidential primary, reached out to Palmetto State voters Wednesday evening with a telephone town hall where took questions about guns, immigration, foreign relations and negative campaigning.

Here are three takeaways:

1. Bush grabbed another chance to push his conservative credentials with a friendly audience in a state where his family is respected but some voters have doubts about the record of the former Florida governor. They did not hit Bush with hard, controversial questions during the 45-minute chat.

If any skeptics were listening, they heard Bush say he: wants the status quo on gun laws; end federal funding for Planned Parenthood; allow businesses owners reject working on gay weddings based on their religious view; and rescind President Barack Obama’s executive orders on immigration.

2. Like other Republican presidential hopefuls, Bush emphasized strengthening national security and improving veterans care to S.C. voters if elected.

He took on Obama again when he spoke about restoring respect and trust for America overseas and overhauling the Veterans Administration, which he said was filled with corruption.

3. The town hall featured little new insight about Bush and included no mention on the story of the moment — current national 2016 GOP frontrunner (and campaign flamethrower) Donald Trump. The New York real estate mogul dissed Bush’s record in recent speeches.

Bush was asked about how he keeps his patience with unspecified personal attacks. “Don’t worry about me,” he said. “I will maintain my civility.”