One guy urged him to talk more about his compassion. Another told him to take Trump's attacks on the chin and stay substantive. A third man urged him to work harder to spread the word nationally.

Never before had Bush faced supporters so annoyed and worried about his fate. They quickly turned a campaign rally on a country club gazebo here into an open campaign strategy session — with dozens of reporters watching.

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Adding to the awkwardness, the advice started flying just minutes after South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley announced her endorsement of Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) for the GOP nomination. It was a major blow to Bush, who personally likes Haley, campaigned for her and has helped develop her education policy. Bush was so eager to win her support that he deployed his brother, former president George W. Bush, to meet with Haley on Monday.

Taking the stage amid that bad news, he defiantly defended his performance, reminding voters that he's more experienced than Rubio and is the only contender attacking Trump on a daily basis.

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Later, a military veteran told the crowd about meeting Bush last year in Charleston. "You pulled out a piece of paper and a pen and took notes for three hours. I have not heard any other candidate do that, and I want to thank you for that," said the veteran, who left the event before reporters could catch his name.

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He told Bush, "This is something you don't talk about, but I think you should."

Bush ignored the advice and launched into a lengthy answer about his plans to reform the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Edward Scott, 58, told Bush: "I wanted to come here and listen to you without interruption. And I got what I expected, because I’ve known for a long time that you are the best-qualified person."

But Scott urged Bush to "raise the bar in the next [debate] and try to be beyond the bullying." He said he didn't blame Bush for attacking Trump.

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"It appears that you do get knocked off-center like anybody would because of the insults to you and your family," Scott said.

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"I don’t think I feel shaken up by the bully," Bush replied. "I’m the only guy going after the guy who I believe is hijacking the party."

Scott is a commercial real estate broker from Frederick, Md., who does work in South Carolina. He told reporters afterward that "I wanted to hear the unadulterated story, and it just doesn't play like that in a national forum, and it's too bad, because he is the most qualified, he's got a great story."

He urged Bush to just "turn the other cheek a dozen times if he has to" in the debates if Trump keeps up his attacks. When a reporter asked whether a nonconfrontational approach can work, Scott raised his voice: "Well, it's really working for him now, isn't it? I think as more and more people see him for who he is, he'll benefit from it. But right now, everything's off-center, and it's designed that way. It's like watching 'The Jerry Springer Show' in the morning."

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Finally, David Villinger, 62, a retiree from nearby Ridgeville, S.C., told Bush that he'd heard "nothing but good things about you throughout the campaign."

"I think the campaign has been co-opted by the P.T. Barnum of our time," he said. "And I think he is getting you off your good message and all the times that you've shared with us today. But I think I would encourage you to emphasize those things."

"I do," Bush interjected.

"Do more," Villinger said.

"This is what I do," Bush replied.

"No, I mean, sir, on the more national level to the extent that you can," Villinger said, urging the candidate to talk more about his policy proposals in the next debate.

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Villinger said he'd come to the event mulling whether to vote for Bush or Ohio Gov. John Kasich, and he left the event leaning toward Bush.

Trump, he said, is "just smoke."

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"I think he’s a bully. I haven’t heard a single substantive proposal from him other than a wall, which I think is outlandish," he told reporters.

Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.), a Bush supporter traveling with the candidate on Wednesday, dismissed the idea that Bush should play nice.

"You tell me how you do that onstage, how you do that in 30 seconds," he said. "You tell me how you do that when someone just accused your brother of causing 9/11. Somebody just accused your brother of lying to the American people — but you talk about your health-care plan? If you did that, you’re losing 90 percent of the people in South Carolina because here’s the way we are: If somebody insults our mom, our dad, our brother, we’re going to pop you in the face. Figuratively. And maybe literally.”

Leaving the event, Jeb Bush said he was "disappointed" by Haley's decision. He dealt with the bad news and free advice sarcastically.