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Philip Maddocks: Candidates get combative after their cars crash in Iowa Comment By Philip Maddocks More Content Now MailTribune.com By Philip Maddocks More Content Now Posted Oct. 9, 2015 at 7:22 AM By Philip Maddocks More Content Now Posted Oct. 9, 2015 at 7:22 AM » Social News Tensions among three of the Republican presidential hopefuls vying for support from the establishment wing of the party burst into public view this week after their campaign vehicles were involved in a pileup en route to an event in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The vitriol exchanged at the crash site among the three – Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio and John Kasich – suggested the trio had entered a new, more combative phase of a campaign that has been dominated by attacks between Donald Trump and nearly all of his rivals. The crossfire began when Mr. Bush compared Senator Rubio’s driving to that of President Obama’s after Mr. Bush and Mr. Rubio were involved in a crash on Interstate 380 in Cedar Rapids on Wednesday. The confrontation escalated when Mr. Rubio’s staff prevented a videographer working for a “super PAC” supporting Mr. Bush from taking video of the crash scene. And then it took a more personal and expansive turn moments later when Mr. Kasich, the governor of Ohio, piled into the crash scene after losing control of his vehicle as he was mocking Mr. Bush and Mr. Rubio from the highway. Perhaps haunted by the specter of Mr. Trump still at the top of the polls as the calendar moves to October, Mr. Bush tried to stay on the attack and ahead of his rivals, keeping up his criticism of Mr. Kasich and Mr. Rubio even as he struggled to extricate himself from his gray Buick. Even more than the other presidential hopefuls stranded on the side of I-380, Mr. Bush showed a growing urgency to stand out as potential voters drove past the crash site paying attention to Mr. Bush and the two other establishment candidates perhaps for the first time. As reporters and state police gathered at the scene, Mr. Bush tried to seize the moment, making an especially aggressive case for blaming the crash on his two GOP opponents. Introducing himself to an officer as a “disrupter of the old order,” he threatened to “turn Rubio upside down.” And when Mr. Kasich tried to intervene with his own version of events leading up to the crash, Mr. Bush went at the Ohio governor. “I think Kasich needs a little disrupting, as well,” Mr. Bush snarled, dismissing Mr. Kasich’s account of the events and boasting that he, Mr. Bush, is a more accomplished driver than the Ohio governor and every other candidate in the field. “I will match my driving with anyone running for president,” Mr. Bush said. He recounted his success mastering the roads of Florida when he was governor while noting Florida’s economic growth during his tenure made for a lot of detours and stretches of scarified pavement “that have long confounded Rubio.” Putting aside any question of his own blame in the pileup, Mr. Bush asked: “If I don’t toot my own horn, who knows what happens? I probably saved Marco’s life. That’s the kind of leadership and driving skill we need in the White House.” “Look, we had a president who drove like Rubio, came in and said the same kind of thing — new and improved, hope and lane change — and he just didn’t have the skills,” said the former governor. Mr. Rubio refrained from criticizing Mr. Bush by name, but consistently warned passersby to the crash scene against nominating “someone who drives like your grandmother.” “He may look familiar,’ Mr. Rubio said, “but, as Interstate 380 is my witness, I would not recommend that you or anyone get in the car with this man, no matter how much you may like your grandmother.” Perhaps feeling left out from the off-road back-and-forth, Mr. Kasich and his aides gleefully seized on a report that Mr. Bush’s super PAC had been doing opposition research on the Ohio governor just before their candidate’s vehicle crashed in Cedar Rapids. “I could understand why that would make them nervous. If I were in their shoes, I might drive off the road, too,” Mr. Kasich told reporters at the side of the road. “When you are trailing in places like New Hampshire, and you’re not doing so hot in other places, of course voters are going to be looking around at who might be the mature adult,” Mr. Kasich added as he intently inspected his banged up Hyundai rental car. But it was Mr. Bush – his sleeves rolled up, his hair askew, and an exclamation point dangling from his battered vehicle – who would have the last word. “The other candidates,” he said, “should know now that if they drive too close, well, stuff happens.” Philip Maddocks writes a weekly satirical column. He can be reached at [email protected]. By Philip Maddocks More Content Now MailTribune.com By Philip Maddocks More Content Now Posted Oct. 9, 2015 at 7:22 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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