Bush Ends His Fund-Raising Tour

Dogged by small but hearty bands of protesters, President Bush on Saturday wrapped up three days of fund-raising in the West that brought in millions of dollars for Republicans, including more than $2.5 million for Bill Simon Jr., the GOP gubernatorial candidate in California.

Before leaving California, the president spoke at a breakfast for Simon in West Los Angeles, his third fund-raising appearance for the beleaguered nominee since arriving in the state Friday morning.

As his motorcade arrived for the fund-raiser, it was greeted by several hundred jeering protesters corralled on the sidewalks at the intersection of Westwood and Santa Monica boulevards.

Shouting through bullhorns and pounding on drums, some demonstrators waved signs that read: “No War for Oil,” “Stop Bush” and “Bush and Simon, Corporate Crooks.”

But there also were a few pro-Bush signs, with one reading: “Luvya Dubya.”

Far above the commotion, the piped-in strains of Vivaldi set a placid tone as 250 Republican donors gathered on the 17th floor of the Regency Club.

Introducing Bush, Simon made light of news reports that the president had distanced himself from the nominee during public appearances in Stockton and Santa Ana.

“If keeping me at arm’s length really means flying several thousand miles out here to campaign with us for two days, and now you’ve done five events with us, could you please keep me at arm’s length for the balance of the campaign?” Simon joked.

For his part, the president expressed his pleasure in backing “this good man in his quest to be governor.”

“I stand by his side because I know you can do better in California,” said Bush, who never spoke Gov. Gray Davis’ name during his visit. “The status quo is not acceptable.... Sacramento needs a breath of fresh air, a new attitude.”

Earlier this year, the White House backed former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan in the GOP gubernatorial primary. After Simon’s upset victory, Bush dutifully supported Simon’s longshot candidacy--only to be blindsided by a recent civil jury award of $78 million against Simon’s family investment firm regarding allegations of fraud. Still, the president followed through on his commitment to speak at the three Simon fund-raisers--amid much speculation over how vigorously Bush would promote Simon’s candidacy.

Although the president unequivocally expressed his support for Simon during the invitation-only fund-raisers, Bush did not do so in the public events, during which he touted his policy initiatives.

And once in New Mexico, Bush resumed his tough rhetoric against executive wrongdoers, vowing to “rout those out who cook the books.”

In Las Cruces, Bush spoke Saturday afternoon at New Mexico State University. “It’s great to come to a place where you can see cowboy hats and belt buckles and boots,” the president quipped.

It was while touting his initiative to create a Department of Homeland Security that Bush sounded perhaps the most partisan note of the three-day Western journey.

Referring to the objections of some Senate Democrats to some provisions of that initiative, Bush fumed: “There are senators who are more worried about the special interests in Washington than they are about protecting the people. They are more interested in their turf than they are about homeland security.”

Before returning to his ranch near Crawford, Texas, where he is spending much of August, Bush attended a $1,000-a-plate dinner to benefit Republican House candidate Steve Pearce, and John Sanchez, the GOP gubernatorial candidate.

The president’s stops in New Mexico marked the end of a policy and politics swing that began Thursday with a visit to Oregon, where he touted a new policy to make it easier for the timber industry to clear flammable underbrush and trees in fire-prone forests.

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Chen reported from Las Cruces and Barabak from Los Angeles.