MERRIMACK, N.H. — At a serious and sober town hall meeting here Wednesday night, Jeb Bush dropped statistics like New Year’s Eve confetti.

“A third at best, a third of our kids are college and/or career ready,” Mr. Bush said when asked if the Islamic State or “K-through-12” education posed the bigger threat to the United States. “We spend more per student than any country in the world other than Belgium and Luxembourg.”

But the real party, complete with a blaring Aerosmith soundtrack for fans while they waited, was just a short drive to the east, where Donald J. Trump was speaking at a school auditorium in Derry. He never saw Mr. Bush or his audience. But he said he could channel how they were probably feeling.

“You know what’s happening to Jeb’s crowd right down the street?” he asked his overflowing crowd. “They’re sleeping.”