Romney has rarely mentioned Bush in his 2012 bid for the presidency. During a Thursday press conference where he was endorsed by former President George H.W. Bush and former first lady Barbara Bush, Romney downplayed his connection to their son.

“I haven’t met with President George W. Bush,” Romney said when asked how often they talked. “We speak from time to time.”…

A Republican strategist close to Romney’s campaign said the likely strategy would be to avoid discussing Bush’s two terms in office, even when asked directly about him.

“When questions are asked about Bush it’ll be a combination of being respectful of Bush but then pivoting to his own agenda and the contrasts with the current president,” said the strategist. “It’s not going to benefit Romney to get into a long protracted discussion about the successes and failures of President George W. Bush’s presidency.”