The president's fundraising visits are coordinated by the White House Office of Political Affairs, a team of advisers who know that money raised for swing states such as Pennsylvania and Ohio could reap big rewards later this year.
"It's appropriate, and it is acknowledging that the president, as head of the party, has a role to play at these events," said Scott M. Stanzel, a deputy White House press secretary.
Under federal election law, the White House calculates the amount of time the president spends on political events during such trips and charges the candidate or committee a pro-rated portion of travel expenses. The cost of Secret Service protection and the time of staff who may have accompanied the president for his official events are not included, Stanzel said.
The president has appeared at 306 fund-raising events since taking office, including those for his own re-election, raising a staggering $760 million, according to records maintained by Mark Knoller of CBS News.
Such figures illustrate that Bush remains popular with a loyal segment of the Republican base, even as his approval ratings hover in the low 30s.
"The president has the power of incumbency and has always had huge fundraising prowess," said John M. Kane, a former chairman of the Maryland Republican Party. "He can dwarf the efforts of many, including those with the so-called momentum."
Both Bush and McCain have tacitly acknowledged that the president's primary advantage in helping a Republican succeed him in the White House is as a cash-collector, not a hustings campaigner.
"If he wants me to show up I will. If he wants me to say, `You know, I'm not for him,' I will," Bush said during his endorsement of McCain.
"I'll be pleased to have him with me both from raising money and the much needed finances for the campaign, and addressing the challenging issues that face this country," the senator said, adding that Bush had a "busy schedule" that might keep him off the campaign trail.
Bush's aggressive fundraising provides fodder for partisan critics who want to link McCain and other Republican candidates to an unpopular president.
"They can't take his money and then distance themselves from his legacy of failure," said Brad Woodhouse, president of Americans United for Change, a liberal group working to elect Democrats.
"On the biggest issues facing America today - the war in Iraq and the economy - the vast, vast majority of Republicans have supported Bush, they helped create his legacy and there is no way we are going to allow them to take his campaign cash and then try to distance themselves from him," Woodhouse said. "That dog won't hunt."
But such arguments don't worry Republican donors and candidates who are well aware of the power of money. "Any candidate," said Kane, the former Maryland chairman, "would appreciate the help of a huge fundraising powerhouse like the president's."
david.nitkin@baltsun.com
