Bush welcome to raise cash, but no pictures and no press

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SARASOTA, Fla. -- President Bush has become the Stealth Campaigner.

Candidates across the country, especially those in tight races where the president's power to draw cash is most valuable, want him to drop by for a fundraiser. They just don't want their picture taken with the head of the party -- mainly because they know it will end up in their opponents' television commercials.

So far this year, Mr. Bush has done 10 times as many closed-press fundraising events compared to 2002. He has also not appeared at a single major Republican rally, unlike four years ago, when he did 32.

"What a difference a few years makes," said Democratic National Committee spokesman Stacie Paxton. "Republicans are happy to take his cash, but when it comes to photo-ops and campaign stops, President Bush is persona non grata. ... Clearly, President Bush is toxic to many of the candidates across the country."

So far this campaign cycle, the president has followed a different path than he did in the last midterm congressional elections in 2002. While he has done about the same number of fundraising events -- 71 in 2002 and 67 so far this cycle -- just three events four years ago were deemed "closed press" by the White House, meaning that no reporters were allowed inside.

This year, the president has barred the press from 33 events, including a Republican National Committee dinner last night in Boca Raton, Fla.

While the White House plays down the marked rise in closed events, candidates are wary of being photographed with the president, whose approval rating has plummeted to record lows.

Democrats in 78 House races nationwide are using images of Mr. Bush and seeking to tie the unpopular president to the local Republican candidate, according to ABC News. In five of the seven Senate races on which the Democrats are making their strongest efforts -- Virginia, Tennessee, Ohio, Rhode Island and Pennsylvania -- Mr. Bush plays a leading role in campaign commercials.

With some projections having Republicans losing as many as 40 House seats this election, one prominent Republican strategist said yesterday that the White House is also wary of weighing in.

"Who wants to have their fingerprints on this mess," the strategist said on the condition of anonymity.