Gingrich chides GOP presidential candidates for skipping black forum

"I'm puzzled by their decision. I can't speak for them. I think it's a mistake. I wish they would change their minds -- they still have a few days -- and I wish they would in fact go to the debate Thursday night."

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who is considering entering the race for the GOP nomination, can't understand why top tier Republican presidential candidates are skipping a forum focused on issues of importance to black voters.

The top four candidates in the GOP race who declined to participate in Thursday's forum at Baltimore's Morgan State University are:

• former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani
• former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson
• Arizona Sen. John McCain
• former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney

Read more in this AP story.

-- Jaime Holguin