Bush stumps for GOP in California

WASHINGTON — President Bush assumes the role of campaigner-in-chief in California this week, part of a month-long drive to help Republicans keep control of Congress.

In the last midterm congressional elections four years ago, the president's efforts paid big dividends for his party, but since then the political ground has shifted. He's still a big draw for Republican fundraisers, but some candidates who proudly campaigned with Bush in the past are keeping their distance now.

Bush's three-day swing through Nevada, California, Arizona and Colorado, which began Monday, is packed with closed-door donor receptions, but doesn't include a single open-door event or public rally.

"It's a Catch-22. They're in trouble because of Bush, but they still need Bush to raise money for them," said Phil Singer, a spokesman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. "They want to tap the White House ATM, but they don't want to do it in public."

White House aides scoff at suggestions that Bush is trying to operate under the radar. Nearly all receptions on the president's Western road trip will be open to media coverage, so it's not like he'll slip into town unnoticed. Big public rallies are planned for later, closer to the Nov. 7 election.

White House spokesman Tony Snow said Bush will be on the road almost constantly between now and Election Day. Democrats need to gain six Senate seats and 15 House of Representatives seats to take control of Congress.

"You're going to see a very active travel schedule. He's going to be all over the country campaigning for Republicans," Snow said at a recent breakfast. "There are a lot of candidates saying, 'Please, please, please, come to my district or come to my state."'

A spokesman for Rep. John Doolittle, who'll host Bush at a $2,000-per-person reception in El Dorado Hills, Calif., Tuesday, said the congressman was eager to have Bush come to his conservative district in north-central California. Political handicappers in Washington list Doolittle as likely to win re-election.

"I think it's going to fire up our base. It's created a buzz," spokesman Richard Robinson said.

Bush will also appear Tuesday in Stockton, Calif., at a fundraiser for Congressman Richard Pombo.

Still, there's no question that Bush's political stock has plummeted. While he may be welcome in Republican districts, he's become a liability for Republicans in hotly competitive swing districts.