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Obama talks tough on Wall Street

Bush rakes in millions for GOP

By Jon Ward
March 27, 2008

President Bush this year has already raised nearly half the amount of money for the Republican Party and candidates he did all of last year, in a role in which the lame-duck leader still excels despite his low job-approval ratings.

Mr. Bush, after a $2 million fundraiser Tuesday night at the Virginia home of a finance director for Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign, had raised $30.1 million this year for various Republican Party groups and candidates, compared with $66.6 million in 2007, according to numbers provided by the Republican National Committee.

The president may not raise as much during 2007 and 2008 as he has during previous two-year election cycles, but he is on pace to raise a substantial sum.

Mr. Bush is traveling today to Ohio and Pennsylvania to raise money for the state Republican parties.

Mr. Bush's fundraising pace is notable given that he has a minimal personal stake in this election. He has made no secret of his longing to return home to his Texas ranch after eight years in office, and his vice president is not running to replace him.

Furthermore, Mr. Bush's approval ratings remain stuck at around 30 percent, though the president doubtless does not want the 2008 election to be viewed as an unfavorable referendum on his time in office.

The president's unpopularity will limit his role on the stump, but Mr. Bush's fundraising acumen is still a valuable tool for Mr. McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee from Arizona.

And Mr. McCain needs all the help he can get.

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