“Thirty-two years in the private sector — eight years as governor,” Bush told USA TODAY in an interview Wednesday. “Never worked in Washington, D.C. — never lived in Washington, D.C.”

On the campaign trail, however, numerous voters have described Bush as the embodiment of the Republican establishment, an insider who is the son and brother of previous presidents.

Bush said it doesn’t matter if that kind of criticism is fair or not. “I have to overcome it by saying what my life story is about, and my record of accomplishment,” he said.