Bush still has ability to help Republicans

Washington Post:

After less than an hour visiting a housing assistance agency, President Bush and his motorcade sped to a private home here last Tuesday to make a quick appearance -- and deliver a whole lot of money -- for the Republican Party.

It was his second fundraiser of the day. Four hours earlier, Bush was 260 miles away in Jackson, Miss., speaking at a private luncheon to raise money for the election of newly appointed Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.). The total from the two events: more than $1 million.

His popularity rating in national polls is dismally low, and the presumptive Republican nominee, John McCain, is doing his best to avoid him, but Bush remains a formidable force on the GOP fundraising circuit during his final months in office.

He has already clocked 31 political events this year, raising nearly $70 million for GOP candidates and the national and state parties, according to the Republican National Committee. The tally puts the president on track to meet or exceed the amount he raised before the midterm elections in 2006, according to GOP officials.

To look at it another way: Since the start of 2007, Bush alone is responsible for raising more money than the entire Democratic National Committee.

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This explains the significant advantage the RNC has over the DNC. It is why McCain has a chance of being competitive. There are still a lot of Republicans out there who appreciate the job he has done for the country. It is one reason why the Republican convention will be paid for and the Democrats are cutting their's by a day.