Bush confident Republicans will keep White House

US President George Bush predicted that voters will replace him with a Republican president who will “keep up the fight” in Iraq.

“I’m confident we’ll hold the White House in 2008,” Mr Bush told donors at the Republican Governors Association annual dinner.

The pep talk came in the midst of a presidential campaign that largely has overshadowed Mr Bush’s final year in office.

John McCain looks set to win the Republican nomination while the Democratic race between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton remains very close.