Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich on Tuesday called on fellow Republicans to stop criticizing party Chairman Michael S. Steele and focus instead on defeating Democrats this fall.
Gingrich, who figures prominently in speculation about the 2012 presidential race, said on NBC's "Today" show that Steele "is capable of taking us through the midterm elections." But he also suggested the beleaguered party chairman appoint an outsider to bring the party's finances under control.
"It's foolish for Republicans to focus on Michael Steele as a person and it's better to focus on Democrats," Gingrich said.
Gingrich led the GOP uprising in 1994 that gave the party control of the House in the middle of President Bill Clinton's first term.
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