Thom Tillis in The New York Times

On Education: Department of Education is 5,000 overpaid bureaucrats

"I'm not willing to settle just for a national standard if we think we can set a new standard and a best practice," Tillis said, pivoting to an attack on the federal Education Department as "a bureaucracy of 5,000 people in Washington" who make an average salary of over $100,000.

While criticizing the Education Department is common among Republicans, Tillis was standing next to the younger brother of President George W. Bush, whose signature accomplishments include No Child Left Behind, the sweeping federal education law run by the department.

Bush sensed the need to play down any differences: "We can argue about what to call these things," he said, but maintained that the focus ought to be on ensuring high standards.

On Immigration: Amnesty shouldn't be on the table

Jeb Bush supports a pathway to citizenship for unauthorized immigrants and complained that not addressing the immigration system had "done us harm economically." He said, "If it was framed in that way, I don't think there's a big debate in the Republican Party about the need to do this."

But an easy resolution is not likely in his party. After a reporter noted that Bush's immigration stance was more "conciliatory," the former governor chuckled and the Republicans in the audience let out a brief, nervous laugh.