Jeb Bush supporter gives candidate Powerball ticket at rally

COLUMBIA, South Carolina — Jeb Bush received an unusual campaign contribution Saturday.

As the Republican presidential candidate was leaving a pro-life rally here, he showed reporters a Powerball ticket that someone at the event had given to one of his aides.

"This guy made a campaign contribution of a Powerball ticket. I just want to make sure you realize this is not for me personally," the former Florida governor said. "If we win, I'm sure it will be a (Federal Election Commission) violation, but it's all going to a really good cause."

Bush, who has said in the past that he "hates" gambling and opposed gaming efforts as governor, was nonetheless playful about his new gift.

"It's going to be amazing. It's going to be huge," he quipped.

"Huge?" a reporter asked.

"YUGE," Bush responded, using a favorite word of his GOP rival Donald Trump, giving it the inflection that is a staple of late-night comedians and impersonators mocking the Republican front-runner.

Huge indeed. The jackpot reached its highest amount ever — $900 million — on Saturday.

Bush, who also attended a forum on poverty here along with several other GOP candidates, was scheduled to hold a town hall in Hilton Head Saturday night. He was the only presidential candidate to attend the pro-life rally.