Jeb Bush: 'I gotta get this off my chest -- Donald Trump is a jerk'

Trailing badly in the polls, GOP presidential candidate Jeb Bush unloaded on front runner Donald Trump for running a campaign based on insults, calling the billionaire businessman "a jerk," reports CNN.

Speaking at a townhall, Bush didn't appear to be joking around when he addressed Trump's campaign.

"Just one other thing -- I gotta get this off my chest -- Donald Trump is a jerk," Bush said to applause and laughter from the attendees in Contoocook, New Hampshire.

"You cannot insult your way to the presidency," Bush continued. "You can't disparage women, Hispanics, disabled people. Who is he kidding? This country is far better than that."

"We should reject that out of hand. And I hope you're going to reject it by voting for me," Bush added, making an appeal for votes. "But a guy like that should not be the front-running candidate of our great party. That is not how we win."

After more applause, Bush concluded: "I feel better now. I gave myself therapy there. Thank you for allowing me to do it."

Bush's comments continue the very personal war of words between the two candidates, with Trump calling Bush "dumb as a rock" on Twitter Friday afternoon.

Watch the video below from CNN: