WASHINGTON--On the day GOP White House front-runner Newt Gingrich called for a positive campaign, his Iowa political director, Craig Bergman resigned in the wake of calling Mormons a "cult."

The Des Moines Register political writer Jennifer Jacobs reported at 3:02 p.m. cst: "The new political director for Newt Gingrich's Iowa campaign thinks that some evangelicals believe God would reject Mitt Romney because of his Mormonism.

"Craig Bergman during a focus group on Wednesday with The Iowa Republican and McClatchy newspapers said he thinks Romney's religion will eventually cost him votes."

About three hours later, Gingrich spokesman R.C. Hammond said in a statement, "Craig Bergman agreed to step away from his role with Newt 2012 today. He made a comment to a focus group prior to becoming an employee that is inconsistent with Newt 2012's pledge to run a positive and solutions orientated campaign. "