Paul’s needling of Bush, Romney backfires

Sen. Rand Paul’s (R-Ky.) efforts to needle potential Republican presidential rivals Mitt Romney and Jeb Bush backfired Thursday due to an apparent spelling error.

A photo posted to Paul’s Facebook and Twitter accounts referenced Common Core education standards, a sticking point for many conservatives, and suggested Romney gave the former Florida governor a Common Core friendship band during a “gift exchange” at their meeting Thursday in Utah.

“You misspelled friendship. Maybe there is something to be said for higher standards?” Bush spokeswoman Kristy Campbell shot back in a tweet.

The photo was deleted and later replaced with the correct spelling:

Mitt Romney’s friendship band to Jeb Bush at today’s meeting in Utah: pic.twitter.com/eprVgg2YUx

— Senator Rand Paul (@SenRandPaul) January 22, 2015

Paul, who campaigned against Common Core on a swing through the early voting state of New Hampshire earlier this month, has said he would be undeterred by the likely candidacy of Bush and the potential bid of Romney, the 2012 GOP presidential nominee.

On his New Hampshire trip, he called a third Romney bid the “definition of insanity.” On Thursday, in another photo posted to social media, Paul again made a dig at a 2016 Romney bid, suggesting Bush gave the former Massachusetts governor a “third time’s a charm” bracelet.

Bush’s Thursday meeting with Romney, who has a home in Utah, was reportedly scheduled before Romney told donors earlier this month at a private gathering that he was seriously considering another White House run. Both men have high name recognition among GOP voters but would likely compete for the same donors.