In an internal memo distributed to top aides this morning, Bush campaign manager Danny Diaz argues that Rubio's staffers use "questionable tactics." | AP Photo Bush campaign accuses Rubio aides of 'questionable tactics'

Two days after the New Hampshire primary, Jeb Bush’s top aides are leveling a sharp accusation at Marco Rubio’s campaign team.

In an internal memo distributed to top aides Thursday morning, Bush campaign manager Danny Diaz argues that Rubio’s staffers use “questionable tactics.” The memo comes as the crucial South Carolina primary is heating up — a state, where Diaz notes, many of Rubio’s staffers are based.


“Since he declared his candidacy, numerous media reports have focused on the fact that various members of Senator Marco Rubio’s staff and super PAC hail from the Palmetto State. One aide to the Senator recently told Politico, ‘South Carolina is gonna be a bloodbath,’” Diaz writes.

“We understand due to the Senator’s performance in the most recent debate and fifth place finish in New Hampshire, his team feels like it has something to prove and seeks to further a reputation for employing questionable tactics in South Carolina,” he adds.

Diaz does not single out any of Rubio’s staffers specifically — the memo seems intended more to lay the groundwork for future accusations. But he points to a recent mailer that a pro-Rubio Super PAC released last week in New Hampshire that invoked Bush’s mother, former first lady Barbara Bush.

The mailer showed a doctored photograph of Jeb Bush among a lineup of royals: Queen Elizabeth, Henry VIII and the king from Burger King. Underneath the images ran a quotation from Barbara Bush: “We’ve had enough Bushes.”

“When afforded the opportunity to repudiate the attack against Mrs. Bush, Senator Rubio declined to do so,” Diaz writes.

“While the Senator’s team is focused on bringing about a ‘bloodbath’ in the Palmetto State, our campaign will emphasize that Governor Bush is prepared to be President of the United States from the moment he is inaugurated, while others in the race have demonstrated they are simply not ready,” he adds.

This is not the first time in recent days that Diaz has accused the Rubio team of playing dirty. Last week, Diaz held a conference call with top Bush staff in which he said to watch out for “dirty tricks” — though again, he gave no specific examples of dirty tricks. Both Bush and Rubio are counting on strong performances in the Feb. 20 primary.

A Rubio spokesman did not respond to a request for comment.