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— GEORGE W. BUSH: He served two terms as president and left office less than four years ago, but Bush is virtually a ghost at the Republican gathering as polls show many voters continue to hold him accountable for the nation's economic problems. Bush also serves as an uncomfortable reminder for Republicans of the heavy government spending and debt incurred during his presidency. Democrats, for their part, have tried to yoke Romney to Bush, suggesting he would restore many of the former president's policies if elected.
Republicans planned to air a short tribute video to Bush and his father, former President George H.W. Bush, but have otherwise steered clear of invoking his legacy. Instead, they're showcasing popular figures from the Bush era like former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and the former president's brother Jeb Bush, a onetime governor of Florida.
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