Bush Brings ‘Big Bucks’ For GOP

PALM BEACH, Fla. — Yesterday President Bush was in Jacksonville, where he talked about free trade with dockworkers. That was the official presidential reason for the day trip.But the event was sandwiched between two unofficial reasons: a luncheon in Jacksonville, where 51 people contributed $685,500 to the Republican National Committee, and a reception in Palm Beach, where 49 guests were expected to donate $762,000 to the party’s main bank account.For a president whose approval rating hovers around 30% and shows no sign of budging, traversing the country with his hand out might be the biggest contribution he can make to his party and its candidates. And so far this election year, the president has demonstrated his value with a concerted, nearly weekly collection drive, bringing in millions from Republican Party stalwarts. In the first 11 weeks, Mr. Bush has spoken at 11 Republican fundraising events, which have brought in at least $27 million — a pace of $346,000 per day when yesterday’s two events are included.At the end of March, the party had $21.7 million in cash on hand, compared with the Democratic National Committee’s balance of $3 million, a spokesman for the Republican National Committee, Alex Conant, said. In 2007, Mr. Bush raised $66.6 million for Republicans, Mr. Conant said.The size of the party’s bank account will be an important factor in Senator McCain’s presidential campaign. Unlike the restrictions on how much presidential candidates can raise, there are no limits on the party.And Mr. Bush can still bring in the money. In recent months, the president has spoken at parties for individual candidates, for state Republican organizations, for the party’s congressional campaign committee, for the Republican Governors’ Association and several times for the national party.“The B in Bush stands for big bucks,” President Reagan’s final White House chief of staff, Kenneth Duberstein, said. “He has a proven track record at being able to turn out the party faithful to open their wallets and pocketbooks.”

Bush Brings ‘Big Bucks’ For GOP

Bush Brings ‘Big Bucks’ For GOP

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