President Remains A Skilled Fundraiser

President Bush mingles with constituents before leaving Jackson, Miss., where he spoke at a fundraiser for the election of Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.). (By Evan Vucci -- Associated Press)

"Our goal was to make sure that we started filling the coffers at the RNC, so that when we did have our nominee, it was a turnkey operation," Jackson said, adding later: "As much as our official calendar will allow us, the president will be out there taking seriously his responsibility as head of the party."

Analysts in both parties say Bush's ability to raise money is particularly key in light of the presidential candidacy of Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), who has set primary fundraising records and has opted out of the public financing system for the general election.

The White House refused to release details about this year's fundraising trips. But a list compiled by Mark Knoller, the veteran CBS Radio correspondent who closely tracks White House travel, shows that two-thirds of the Bush fundraisers so far this year were held in states he carried in 2004. Most of the rest were large-scale Republican events in Los Angeles, New York and Washington, including the Republican Governors Association Gala in the District, which took in a record $10.8 million.

In addition to Wicker, according to Democratic aides, Bush has stumped publicly this year for just one other GOP candidate in the Senate: John Kennedy, the former Democrat who is running as a Republican against Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.). In March 2007, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), whose wife is Labor Secretary Elaine Chao and is already identified as a Bush ally, publicly hosted Bush in Louisville.

In addition, Sens. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) and John Cornyn (R-Tex.) had the president in their states last year for private fundraisers without photographs, Democrats said. This is a particularly stark contrast for the class of Republican incumbents elected in 2002, such as Coleman and Chambliss, for whom Bush stumped in large public settings in the final weeks of that campaign season.

So far this year, Bush has held fundraisers for only three incumbents in the House: Rep. Sam Graves of Missouri and Reps. Lincoln Diaz-Balart and Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida. All events were closed to the media.

"Almost without exception, the Republican candidate sneaks Bush in, wants no cameras, no pictures," said Sen. Charles E. Schumer (N.Y.), chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. "When you have to hide the president, you know you're in trouble."

One of Bush's few public fundraisers came last month in suburban Detroit, garnering $750,000 for the Michigan Republican Party. "We love you!" one woman yelled from a crowd estimated at 325 people.

During a 20-minute speech, Bush launched a red-meat attack on the Democratic presidential hopeful -- though he never actually mentioned Obama's name -- and predicted victory for McCain and other Republicans in November.

"I don't know about you, but my energy is up and my spirits are high, and I'm going to finish my job with a sprint to the finish line," Bush told the crowd. "Let's put Republicans back in control of the Congress and the Senate. Let's make sure Republicans run the statehouse here in Michigan. And let's do all we can to put John McCain in the Oval Office."

Staff writer Paul Kane contributed to this report.