Former Republican Rep. Jim Leach (Iowa) and former GOP Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R.I.) touted Barack Obama as the presidential candidate who represents the traditional conservatism that they feel has been forgotten under President Bush.

In an Obama campaign conference call Tuesday, during which Leach announced his endorsement of Sen. Obama (D-Ill.), the two former lawmakers tied presumptive Republican nominee Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) to Bush’s positions, particularly on the war in Iraq and spending.

Chafee, who served as a Republican in the Senate but has become an Independent, criticized McCain for voting against the Bush tax cuts and domestic offshore oil drilling but supporting those measures while campaigning for president.

“Seeing the two different John McCains is a fracture to his credibility,” said Chafee.

Though Leach and Chafee, who has supported Obama since the Democratic primaries, were longtime congressional Republicans, they often broke with their party on major issues, such as opposing the tax cuts enacted during Bush’s first term and the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

The Republican National Committee (RNC) responded to Leach’s endorsement by questioning Obama’s inexperience.

“Barack Obama’s claims to bipartisan appeal are as thin as his record,” said RNC spokesman Alex Conant. “Republicans will vote for a commander in chief ready to lead — not a partisan politician who is only ready to raise taxes and increase spending.”

But Leach and Rita Hauser, a Republican and former member of Bush’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board, both emphasized the differences on foreign policy between the two candidates. Hauser said McCain’s and Obama’s responses to the conflict in Georgia underscored why Obama is the better choice. While McCain was “bellicose” and has called for Russia’s ouster from the G8, Obama is “far more the traditional person, turning to international institutions,” she said.

Hauser added: “A very large number of us feel deeply that John McCain, good man that he is, will be a continuation of Bush.”

The three Republicans backing the Democrat are part of a group called Republicans for Obama that will be launching a website in coming days to lay out differences between the two candidates, Hauser said. More Republicans are expected to join the group, she said.

During the call Leach twice put forth Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) as a running mate for Obama.

“Personally, I’m hopeful in the list of [people for] the campaign to consider would be Chuck Hagel, whether for the veep position or a serious Cabinet position,” said Leach. “I think he would be the type of Republican who could represent well this country.”