Bush to Give DeLay a Lift to Show Support

In a show of support, President Bush will give House Republican leader Tom DeLay a ride to Washington from Galveston after both attend an event on Bush’s Social Security plan today, a White House spokesman said.

DeLay is facing stiff criticism over allegations that he violated ethics rules by allowing lobbyists to pay for some of his overseas travel, including a May 2000 trip to Britain that included golf at the St. Andrews golf course in Scotland.

The Texas Republican has accused Democrats and the media of conducting a witch hunt, and the White House has called him a friend of Bush’s and said the president appreciated the work he was doing as the No. 2 Republican in the House.