Bush to break fund-raising ice to help brother

By Brian E. Crowley, Palm Beach Post Political Editor Saturday, January 5, 2002

President Bush is expected next week to attend his first political fund-raiser since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks to help his younger brother's reelection campaign.

Florida Republicans will have twin events Wednesday at the Capitol Hilton in Washington aimed at raising money for Gov. Jeb Bush's bid for a second term. The night will begin with a $500-a-person cocktail reception for Bush's campaign. That will be followed by a $10,000-a-couple dinner benefiting the Florida Republican Party, which will be spending heavily to reelect Bush.

The White House will not confirm the president's appearance until the last possible minute in part because of concerns that world events could make it difficult for him to attend the reception and dinner. The White House, however, has told Florida Republicans to expect the president.

There also is concern about the political ramifications. Bush has avoided fund-raising events since the terrorist attacks. White House officials feared it would look unseemly for the president to mix politics with his duties as commander in chief.

Some Republicans, however, have been arguing that Bush needs to get more involved in helping with a handful of close races for governor as well as the struggles to keep control of the House and win back the Senate.

It has been suggested that Bush can avoid criticism of his going to the Florida events because he would be helping a member of his family. That, some argue, would break the ice for future fund-raising events. The White House appears to be ready to heed that advice.

The Bush administration has not avoided all fund raising. Vice President Dick Cheney attended several events after the terrorist attacks. One was a Nov. 27 fund-raiser in Washington for Senate Republican Leader Trent Lott of Mississippi. During the first week of December, Cheney attended congressional fund-raisers in Texas and Oklahoma.

Last month, President Bush traveled to Orlando, where he participated in a campaign style promotion of his economic recovery proposals. He also met privately with top GOP donors and political activists.

Bush has been especially attentive to Floridians since taking office last year. Florida is crucial to his reelection in 2004 and a Jeb Bush defeat in November would be a crushing blow.

Four Democrats are hoping to challenge the younger Bush this year -- House Minority Leader Lois Frankel of West Palm Beach, state Sen. Daryl Jones of Miami, attorney Bill McBride of Tampa and former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno of Miami.

brian_crowley@pbpost.com

-- Anonymous, January 05, 2002