Remember this guy? George W. Bush hardly mentioned in GOP race as candidates avoid legacy of budget deficits and two wars



George W. Bush only left White House three years ago

But no GOP candidates have blamed him for troubles

Bush had approval rating of 34% when leaving office



He was the last member of the Republican party to hold office in the White House - but it seems none of the new candidates want to talk about him.



George W. Bush, the two-term U.S. President who finished just three years ago, has hardly been mentioned on the GOP campaign trail so far.

No contenders have embraced a legacy of huge budget deficits, two wars and record low approval ratings - or blame him for America’s troubles.

Not remembered: George W. Bush, a two-term President who finished just three years ago, has hardly been mentioned on the GOP campaign trail so far

The seven contenders often criticise Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama - but only fleeting references have been made to President Bush.

However his name was brought up by a voter in a question to Texas Rep. Ron Paul, who is often critical of U.S. military engagements abroad.

‘We've had, in the past, a couple of presidents from Texas that said they weren't interested in wars - like George W. Bush,’ the voter said.

‘My question is - how can we trust another Texan?’

Analyst Jack Pitney said Republicans 'talk a lot about losing their way during the last decade' and are 'talking about the Bush years'.



‘For Republicans, the Bush administration has become the "yadda yadda yadda" period of American history,’ the political science professor added.

Targets: The seven contenders often criticise Ronald Reagan, right, and Barack Obama, left - but only fleeting references have been made to President Bush



When the eight-year Bush presidency does surface it's often a point of criticism, with a former Pennsylvania senator coming in with an attack.

'For Republicans, the Bush administration has become the "yadda yadda yadda" period of American history' Jack Pitney

Candidate Rick Santorum told CNN on Sunday that he regretted voting for the No Child Left Behind education law Bush championed.

The former president himself has been all but invisible since leaving office in 2009 with a Gallup approval rating of just 34 per cent.

Bill Clinton had a 66 per cent approval rating in 2001 when he stepped down after two terms marred by a sex scandal and impeachment.

The presidential contest has been dominated by concerns over the weak economy, government spending and the $15trillion federal debt.

But Republicans controlled Congress for six of the eight years President Bush was in power, clearing the way for many of his policies to be enacted.

Contender: Rick Santorum told CNN on Sunday that he regretted voting for the No Child Left Behind education law George W. Bush championed

President Obama's policies, including the federal stimulus programme and car industry bailout, have swollen the deficit and deepened the debt.

'I think Bush has made America a safer nation and better nation and I'm proud of it. But politics isn't about what's fair, it's about winning' Ari Fleischer

He often falls back on complaints about the bad situation he inherited when seeking to defend his own economic performance.

But while he may often like to blame the Bush years, GOP presidential contenders seem just as eager to pretend those years never happened.

‘Sad to say, they're looking at polling data that indicates they're better off not bringing him into the campaign,’ ex-Bush spin doctor Ari Fleischer said.

‘I think President Bush has made America a safer nation and better nation and I'm proud of it. But politics isn't about what's fair - it's about winning.’