Gingrich to GOP: Abandon Bush

Republican presidential candidates should make a “clean break” from the Bush Administration, Newt Gingrich declared today. “If you don't represent real change, you just gave away the 2008 election,” the former Speaker said, citing Iraq, the Hurricane Katrina response, and border control as reasons for public unhappiness. Gingrich also said he is highly unlikely to join the race himself.

He explained that his grass-roots campaign to change the country might not bear fruit for five years, according to Reuters, but wouldn’t rule out a run until Sept. 29. Gingrich said his remarks had “nothing to do” with Bush, whose character he praised, but he did attack many Bush decisions—including the Iraq strategy, which he called “not very sound.” (More Election 2008 stories.)