The fact that George W. Bush's veto was overridden on the Medicare payments bill, his veto threat was all but disregarded by Congress on the issue of housing (prompting him to wirthdraw his opposition), and that he is playing an increasingly small role in the legislative process are all testaments to the reality that the current President is not only a lame duck but a tremendous one at that. The reception, both in American and abroad, received by Barack Obama is further proof of this. Yet I never knew quite how bad things were for President Bush until I read this local news item under the heading "Some wonder why Bush is stumping for first-time congressional candidate."
Why will the president of the United States come to Peoria to raise money for a 26-year-old, first-time congressional candidate?Some political gurus say he's looking for positive press to build his legacy. Others say he simply has nothing better to do -- with Aaron Schock's apparent lead in the race, George Bush can't do much harm to his campaign.
"My speculation is there's not much else he can do around the country right now in terms of campaigns. His poll numbers are very low. Nobody wants to be seen with him," said Christopher Mooney, professor of political studies at the Institute for Government and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois-Springfield.
"(Schock) has got a comfortable lead, he's got a lot of money, he's got the smell of inevitability about him. If it was a close race, I don't think you'd be seeing George Bush coming out here."
Bush will appear Friday at Weaver Angus Farms for a $500 per plate fundraiser for Schock, who is seeking the Republican nomination for the 18th Congressional District against Democrat Colleen Callahan and Green Party candidate Sheldon Schafer.
This race is potentially competitive -- the Cook Political Report rates it as such -- but it is not one that has engaged to the extent that some (including myself) expected earlier in the cycle when former NBA coach Dick Versace announced that he would run in the open seat election (he subsequently withdrew his candidacy). That the President has to go this low on the Democrats' target list in order to find a candidate willing to be the recipient of his fundraising largesse is telling.
But just how great is that largesse? According to the article, this is a $500 a plate fundraiser -- less than a quarter of the maximum $2,300 contributions Bush used to be able to demand for such appearances. The $500 donations being asked for to get into this event are the types of contributions that a former Governor or a campaign event featuring one of those '70s bands you kind of, but don't totally, remember are able to pull in. But a sitting President? Only $500 for a sitting President? That certainly seems a bit underwhelming.
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