STORY: Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush called Russian President Vladimir Putin “a bully,” at a campaign event on Saturday (February 13) in Fountain Inn, South Carolina.

“Putin is a bully, I am learning about bully’s now,” Bush said. “What I believe about bullies is that if you confront them and you are clear and consistent, they won’t bully.”

If the cost for Putin is higher than the benefits. he won’t invade Crimea,” he said. “You can’t call Russia a regional power, insulting them to the core and then allow them to invade another country thirty days later.”

“You have to engage,” Bush said. “So what should be the engagement? Further sanctions, we should engage with our European allies to make sure these sanctions aren’t lifted, we should hold them top account for any agreements that are being violated.”

Later on Saturday Bush will take part in a debate ahead of South Carolina’s Republican primary vote on Feb. 20.

Donald Trump, who won New Hampshire handily on Tuesday after placing second in Iowa on Feb. 1, has a big lead in the polls in South Carolina. Unless he is slowed down, he could be in position to roll to his party’s presidential nomination for the Nov. 8 election.

On Monday, former President George W. Bush will seek to generate a fresh burst of enthusiasm for his brother’s White House bid in South Carolina, marking the former president’s first appearance on the campaign trail this year.