Once Voters Get the ‘Narrative,’ Jeb Bush Says, They’ll Turn to Him Over Donald Trump

KEENE, N.H. — The day after dueling New Hampshire town-hall-style meetings left Jeb Bush the recipient of snide attacks from Donald J. Trump, Mr. Bush offered some not-so-friendly fire of his own.

“There’s a big difference between Donald Trump and me,” Mr. Bush, the former governor of Florida, told reporters after a forum here. “I’m a proven conservative with a record. He isn’t.”

Then, Mr. Bush let loose a policy list of differences:

“I cut taxes every year; he’s proposed the largest tax increase in mankind’s history, not just our own country’s history. I have been consistently pro-life; he until recently was for partial birth abortion. I’ve never met a person that actually thought that was a good idea. I believe we need to reform our health care system to make sure we stop the suppression of wages and allow people to have access to insurance; he’s for a single payer system.”

Mr. Bush continued, “He actually advocates these things,” adding, “He’s been a Democrat longer than a Republican. I have fought for Republican and conservative causes all of my adult life, and I just think when people get this narrative — whatever the new term is, the compare-and-contrast narrative — then they’re going to find that I’m going to be the guy that they’re going to vote for, and it’s a long haul, man.”

Asked about reports that two South Boston men are accused of beating a Hispanic homeless man, urinating on him and saying that their actions were in part inspired by Mr. Trump, Mr. Bush said the episode was “horrible” if true — before again using the opportunity to criticize Mr. Trump.

“Look, there should be a little more focus on solving the problems and talking about ideas that matter, rather than just kind of coming in like a tidal wave and saying things that are just outrageous and don’t make sense,” he said. “All of this stuff is to appeal to people’s anger and their angst, rather than have solutions to the problems. At the end of the day, the candidate who offers the most compelling solutions to the problems we face and has the leadership skills, the proven leadership skills to do it, is going to be the one who wins.”

He concluded by seemingly dismissing Mr. Trump, who leads in national polls, as the flavor of the summer but with little staying power. “Let’s go talk about this two months from now, three months from now,” Mr. Bush said. “I think what you’ll find is you’ll have forgotten what exists in August whatever it is — 20th.”