An Aug. 16 article incorrectly said that it was during this year's State of the Union address that President Bush named first lady Laura Bush head of a national youth initiative. It was during last year's address. An Aug. 16 article about Laura Bush's fundraising for GOP candidates misquoted her press secretary, Susan Whitson, in a reference to the first lady's popularity. The quote should have read: "Mrs. Bush understands that part of her popularity is because she can choose the issues she wants to promote that don't necessarily require the hard decisions."
First Lady a 'Critical Asset' At Republican Fundraisers
Wednesday, August 16, 2006; Page A04
Laura Bush is scheduled to headline three events for Republican candidates in Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia today, capping a stretch of five fundraisers this week for a first lady who often jokes that she does not much like politics.
The frequent use of the first lady by Republican candidates as a fundraising draw underscores the ferocious battle they face to retain control of Congress, and also reflects the standing of a woman whose popularity has endured even as public antipathy toward her husband has grown. A Gallup/USA Today poll in June found that 69 percent of Americans had a favorable view of the first lady, much higher than the president's 40 percent favorability rating.
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So far this election cycle, the first lady has spoken at 24 political events, raising a total of $10.7 million, according to the Republican National Committee. "That is obviously an increase of activity from 2002," said Tracey Schmitt, an RNC spokeswoman. "Because of her broad appeal, she is a significant draw wherever she goes, and she is a critical asset to Republican candidates across the country."
Headlining a luncheon on Monday in suburban Chicago that raised $225,000 for GOP congressional candidate Peter Roskam, Bush said that politics is just part of her role as first lady. "You know, politics really is a family business," she said. "Everyone gets involved, whether they want to or not. It's just a fact of life."
Not that she lacked enthusiasm. Her 11-minute speech endorsing Roskam, who is running against Democrat Tammy Duckworth, a disabled Iraq war veteran, touched on many of the themes emphasized by her husband. She said that Roskam had built a track record as a tax cutter in the Illinois state legislature, while promising that he would "be a champion of the men and women of the United States military" if elected to Congress.
After the Roskam event, Bush traveled to St. Louis to head an RNC fundraiser. Today, she is scheduled to attend a breakfast for congressional candidate Geoff Davis in Lexington, Ky. After that, she is slated to deliver a speech at a luncheon for embattled Sen. Mike DeWine (Ohio), and then campaign with Rep. Mike Turner in Dayton, Ohio. She is scheduled to end her day by speaking at a reception for congressional candidate Chris Wakim in Fairmont, W.Va.
"She has been very generous in this cycle, as she was in 2004," said Sara M. Taylor, White House political director, adding: "She is a great messenger for our party."
Bush's political profile has steadily grown during her tenure as first lady. Through the years she has become a more regular campaigner. Also, during the State of the Union address earlier this year, President Bush named her to head a national initiative aimed at steering young people away from bad choices.
While the president remains a potent fundraiser, many GOP candidates are reluctant to campaign with him because of his low approval rating -- making the first lady all the more valuable as a political commodity.
"We certainly get a lot of requests for her," said press secretary Susan Whitson, adding that the first lady harbors few illusions about her appeal. "She always says, 'I'm popular because I don't have to make all the hard decisions.' "
