US Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush has condemned frontrunner Donald Trump over making controversial comments, particularly against Muslims, and called the billionaire businessman a �loser.�

�It�s a sign of weakness when you scare Muslims, law-abiding peaceful Muslims that are as patriotic as anybody in this room, that are citizens of this country, by sending the signal that they�re not worthy of being respected,� Bush said on Sunday while addressing his supporters in Nashua, New Hampshire. �It�s a sign of deep weakness when you do that.�

�And it's a sign of weakness when you make fun of the disabled,� he added. "What kind of man would do that? You do not want that man as president of the United States, I can promise you that.�

�It�s a sign of real weakness when you call John McCain or Leo Thorsness or anybody else that is a POW, who served this country in a way that should be admired, American heroes. Calling them losers? Donald Trump, you're the loser!" he continued.

Bush�s comments come at a time when presidential candidates are barreling toward New Hampshire, which will hold the election's first primary on Tuesday.

According to a new poll, while Trump has widened his lead over the crowded Republican field, Bush is still struggling to gain traction despite being the brother and son of two former US presidents � respectively George W. Bush and George H. W. Bush.

The CNN/WMUR tracking poll, released on Sunday, showed that Trump�s two-digit lead over the GOP field in New Hampshire has got a boost with 33 percent support, giving him a healthy 17 points edge over his closest competitor, Florida Senator Marco Rubio.

Trump�s lead shrunk to 11 points after he finished second in last week�s Iowa caucuses, where Texas Senator Ted Cruz managed to defeat him by a 3 point margin.

The latest poll found Cruz trailing Rubio with 14 percent support, followed by Ohio Governor John Kasich at 11 percent, and Bush at 7 percent.

By Press TV