Jeb Bush's new political ad rips Donald Trump and gushes about the bright future of America — but incredibly, the spot uses footage shot in Asia and the United Kingdom,
Politico reports.
The embarrassing disclosure couldn't come at a worse time for Bush, who political insiders say must make a major splash in Wednesday's GOP presidential debate on CNN if he hopes to save his sinking poll numbers.
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The ad in question — produced by the former Florida governor's super PAC "Right to Rise" — trashes Bush's nemesis Donald Trump with ominous clips of the billionaire developer and says he's in a "very dark place."
Then the sun is seen rising over a field with the words, "choose the brighter path," and Bush jumps in, saying: "If we get a few big things right, we can make lives better for millions of people in this nation where every life matters and everyone has the right to rise."
But it turns out the imagery has nothing to do with the United States.
"The sun is rising over a field in Cornwall, England — a clip available for between $19 and $79 on
Shutterstock," Politico says.
Also shown is a
silhouette of a construction worker with the words, "America is great."
That clip, according to Politico and the website Pond5, is taken from "a multiple story building in Southeast Asia." It can be used for $35.
Then there's a clip of young schoolchildren heading off to class — something also not shot in the United States. According to
iStock, which handles distribution of the clip, it was filmed by a British firm called MonkeyBusiness.
Gawker, the gossip website, said of the snafu: "Is Bush's Super PAC really so cynical it doesn't even check to see if its commercial was shot in the right country? Yes, apparently."
The ad does have a few shots filmed in the United States, including one of the Statue of Liberty in New York City.
Politico reached out to the Right to Rise super PAC, but has not received a response.