WASHINGTON – President Bush plans a week of heavy fund raising starting Monday, collecting campaign cash in the nation's capital, California and Texas for his re-election and for fellow Republicans.
Bush starts with a reception Monday for the National Republican Senatorial Committee (search) in Washington. Most of Bush's fund-raisers are open to the news media, but reporters are barred from this event.
On Wednesday, Bush flies to Los Angeles for a pair of fund-raisers — a midday event for his re-election campaign, and a dinner for the Republican National Committee. It will be his 11th visit to the state since taking office.
Bush has a third California fund-raiser scheduled for Thursday in Santa Clara. He also planned a public event on the economy in Bakersfield, Calif.
Presidents and White House candidates have long used California as a political ATM. Bush had several fund-raisers in California last year. He lands in the state one day after California's primary, which has focused much of the public's attention on the Democrats seeking his job.
Bush was spending a long weekend, from Thursday to Monday, at his Crawford, Texas ranch. Mexican President Vicente Fox (search) was visiting him there March 5-6.
Bush opens the following week with a pair of fund-raisers, including events in Dallas and Houston. Those two fund-raisers bookend an appearance by Bush at a Houston livestock and rodeo event.
Bush has raised more than $153 million toward his re-election. His stated goal is $170 million.
Bush will be on the road raising campaign cash Thursday when his re-election committee begins a major expenditure: airing its first wave of TV commercials.
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