Bush steps up fundraising for GOP lawmakers

updated 11:37 p.m. ET June 16, 2006

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - President Bush darted across the country Friday to raise more than $1 million for a pair of political candidates, part of a stepped-up fundraising pace aimed at helping the GOP retain its majority in Congress.

On Friday, the president flew from the White House to Seattle for a two-and-a-half-hour visit to help freshman Rep. Dave Reichert and the state Republican Party raise more than $830,000. Then he traveled to New Mexico for a two-hour stop to raise $375,000 for Rep. Heather Wilson.

Reichert and Wilson represent districts that voted to make Democrat John Kerry president in 2004. Their districts are emblematic of a sticky situation Republicans find themselves in — although the president is the best fundraiser in the party, he isn’t the most popular figure for a candidate to stand with these days.

Opponents of candidates who ask for Bush’s help raising money sometimes try to use that against them.

“New Mexicans deserve a leader who will stand up to George Bush, not stand next to him for fundraisers and photo-ops,” said state Attorney General Patricia Madrid, Wilson’s Democratic challenger. Madrid added that Wilson has voted for Bush administration policy 88 percent of the time, including support for what she called “the disastrous war in Iraq.”

Later, as Bush stood with Wilson before 300 cheering supporters in a hotel ballroom, he tried to dismiss any notion she was beholden to him.

“You know I like strong women,” Bush said to laughter and applause from the donors who paid $1,000 to be there. “I was raised by one and I married one and I hope we’re raising two. They all listen and sometimes they do what you ask them to do and sometimes they don’t. Heather Wilson is an independent soul. That’s what you want from a person from this district.”

A ‘high demand’ president
Monday night, Bush is scheduled to appear before 5,000 donors in Washington for a dinner that is projected to raise $26 million for the GOP House and Senate campaign committees.

The numbers show that even though the president may be down in public opinion polls, Republicans are still willing to shell out big dollars to see him speak in person and support local GOP candidates. Both Reichert and Wilson live in districts that voted to make Democrat John Kerry president in 2004.

“The president is in high demand by our candidates across the country,” said White House spokeswoman Dana Perino. “He energizes and invigorates these campaigns like no one else can.”

Democratic National Committee spokeswoman Karen Finney said Republicans who appear with Bush at fundraisers are doing so at their own political risk.

“The November elections will come down to one fundamental question for voters: Do you want change or more of the same?” Finney said. “By appearing with President Bush, these candidates are basically making it clear that all they can offer people they hope to serve is more of the same failed Bush policies.”

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