David Jackson

USA TODAY

Jeb Bush withdrew from the Republican presidential race after his loss in South Carolina, abandoning a campaign that struggled frequently in the glare of anti-establishment politics.

"The people of Iowa and New Hampshire and South Carolina have spoken," Bush said Saturday, "and so tonight I am suspending my campaign." Bush failed to win or even place third in any of the first three GOP contests.

The son and brother of previous presidents, Bush entered the race with high name recognition and big money. But those assets turned into liabilities as Donald Trump rose in the polls and voters rebelled against traditional Republican politics.

Few candidates symbolized the establishment more than the former governor of Florida, and voters from Iowa to South Carolina said they could not support the idea of a "third Bush" in the White House in 30 years.

"A lot of my friends felt like they didn't want another Bush," said Kathy Randall, an attorney from Summerville, S.C, who attended a Trump event in nearby Walterboro.

Bush also fell into the cross hairs of Trump. The New York billionaire slammed Bush as the "low-energy candidate," a label that stuck.

GOP leaders long questioned the strategy of the Bush camp, especially Right to Rise, a super PAC that raised a whopping $118 million last year.

Bush’s super PAC reported spending more than $86 million through late this week, according to a tally by the non-partisan Campaign Finance Institute. But virtually none of that money targeted Trump, who emerged as the national front-runner in the GOP race not long after the real-estate mogul announced his candidacy last June.

Instead, the group trained more of its firepower on Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Ohio Gov. John Kasich, with whom Bush competed for establishment support.

New campaign-finance reports filed Saturday night as South Carolina results were coming in showed the super PAC’s fundraising had slowed to a trickle. Right to Rise collected just $378,821 in January, much of it provided by a single donor — NBA’s Orlando Magic owner Dick DeVos, Sr., who gave $250,000.

The super PAC issued a statement Saturday saying, "We could not be more proud of Jeb Bush, the campaign he ran, and the hopeful and optimistic message of conservative reform that he communicated throughout this primary. Our team is grateful to the more than 11,000 Jeb Bush supporters who helped us in our efforts." The PAC announced it is ceasing its activities on behalf of Bush; it was not immediately clear what would happen with any funds left over in its accounts.

The former two-term governor, out of office since 2007, also struggled at times on the campaign trail and often had trouble connecting with voters.

In one incident, Bush said "people need to work longer hours," a comment that rivals in both parties pounced on. Bush later said he was referring to part-time, underemployed Americans who wanted full-time positions.

While Bush at times seemed to shun the family name — his campaign signs said simply "Jeb!" — he brought in high-profile members of his family to stump for him at the end.

George W. Bush seeks to rescue brother Jeb in South Carolina primary

Barbara Bush hits the campaign trail again for Jeb

His mother, Barbara Bush, campaigned for him in New Hampshire and South Carolina.

The South Carolina primary also featured the reappearance of George W. Bush.

To some voters, however, the former president's speech simply underscored how much a better campaigner he was than Jeb Bush.

"He's not his brother," said Carolyn Jackson, 70, a retiree from Lexington, S.C., who attended a Cruz event in Columbia. "He's a good, honorable man — and he is not presidential material ... He just doesn't have the proper strength."

The former president issued a statement following his brother's announcement to end his campaign. "Tonight I talked to my brother and congratulated him on his campaign for the presidency," George W. Bush said. "I told Jeb how proud I am of him and his staff for running a campaign that looked to the future, presented serious policy proposals, and elevated the tone of the race.

Campaign volunteers at Bush's party traded hugs and goodbyes after the former Florida governor's announced he was dropping out.

Solomon Schoonover, a 26-year-old law student, said he had volunteered with the Bush campaign since he announced his candidacy in June.

"It's disappointing because I know that he's the man for the job," he said. "People got distracted by the flashy object and news headlines," he said, alluding to businessman Trump.

Sean Kilbane, a 32-year-old veteran who supported Bush, said he's disappointed in voters.

"It's a huge letdown," he said. "Americans have shown how susceptible they are to one-liners, to rhetoric, and just ignore issues and policy. It's an example of how easily Americans can be manipulated just by getting them emotional."

Contributing: Fredreka Schouten; Shane McKeon, Medill News Service