President Bush takes a break from the rigors of his Crawford, Texas, vacation and heads to attend official government events by day, and raise funds for Oregon Sen. Gordon Smith by night. Bush is the main draw at a $5,000 per person "Senatorial Roundtable," which will feature Smith and Rep. Greg Walden, the only other GOP member of the state's congressional delegation. (CNN checked with Walden's office -- he's still a U.S. representative, but apparently he has friends in high places). Later that night, Bush headlines a $1,000-a-head gala. A photo with the president will cost $25,000 per couple. Both events will be held at the Portland Hilton. Bush recently did a Midwestern fund-raising swing in Wisconsin and Iowa, and now has a 2002 fund-raising total of $106 million. He'll inch closer to the $110 million mark with today's Oregon events and events this weekend for California's Bill Simon. Smith, a Republican, is running for a second term against Democrat Bill Bradbury.
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President Bush continues his West Coast campaign swing to help out Bill Simon's gubernatorial bid in California. The president headlines a high-dollar fund-raising lunch in Stockton, California. Later that evening, Bush will attend a reception and dinner hosted by state GOP operative Gerry Parsky at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort and Spa in Dana Point, California (south of Los Angeles). Tickets for both events are $1,000 per person; reserving a table and getting a picture with the president will cost you anywhere from $10,000 to $100,000. The White House was a not-so-behind-the-scenes backer of former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan's GOP primary bid, but has since tried to rally behind Simon's bid. Simon has been dogged in recent weeks by financial controversy surrounding his family's non-profit foundation. .
Notice how Junior never mingles with those who might not have $1000 for a night out, or 100 grand for a photo? He wouldn't leave Crawford to kiss babies or eat a kielbassa or tamales as would most polititians. His priority is straight, straight to the wallets of the fattest cats he can find. (and he lets them sleep in the Lincoln bedroom too).
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