Posted on 04/01/2004 6:35:51 AM PST by areafiftyone
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Greek Americans helped President Bush raise $1.5 million Wednesday night at a re-election fund-raiser in the nation's capital, where he began his drive for $170 million nine months ago.
Greek surnames dominated the list of donors for the event, one day before a White House "Celebration of Greek Independence Day."
Alex Spanos, owner of the NFL's San Diego Chargers, was the event's chairman. His son, Dean, the team's president, was a co-host.
"Alex said, 'Why don't you come by, I may have a few friends here. A few Greek Americans might show up," Bush told about 1,100 donors.
The event was more upscale than some recent Bush fund-raisers, where donors were treated to boxed meals. On Wednesday night, each table had a bottle of wine.
Contributors also included Jan Antonoplos, the Delaware County, Ohio, clerk of courts; Simos Dimas, a Bronxville, N.Y., lawyer; and William Stavropoulos, director of Computer Associates International, Inc., one of the federal government's top 100 contractors.
Among other donors were:
-Tom Kuhn, president of the Edison Electric Institute, a member of Vice President Dick Cheney's energy task force and a "ranger" - the top echelon of Bush fund-raisers, who round up at least $200,000 each.
-Kirk Blalock, a former White House official now working for Philip Morris and a "pioneer" - among those who collected at least $100,000 for the campaign.
-James A. Baker IV, a "pioneer" and son of James A. Baker III, a former secretary of state and a Bush family friend.
-James Langdon, a Washington attorney specializing in international oil and gas transactions whose clients include Lukoil, the Russian oil company. He raised more than $100,000 for Bush and was a Washington finance co-chairman.
-Tony Hope, son of entertainer Bob Hope.
Bush used the occasion to try to advance a line of attack the White House and his re-election campaign have been using against Democratic rival John Kerry: that he favors tax increases.
"My opponent is one of the main opponents of tax relief in the United States Congress," Bush said, reciting a list of instances in which he said Kerry voted against tax cuts. "But when tax increases are proposed, it's a lot easier to get a 'yes' vote out of him."
Flush with cash, the president's role as fund-raiser in chief is waning - at least as far as his own re-election treasury is concerned. His last in-person re-election fund raiser is set for Monday in Charlotte, N.C., a Republican official said.
Wednesday's appearance was a bookend of sorts to the "opening night" fund-raiser Bush held June 17, 2003 in Washington.
A labor group organized a protest outside, part of what it called a "Show Us The Jobs Tour." AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka and hundreds of supporters said they wanted to highlight the more than 2 million jobs lost on Bush's watch.
And Bush will remain active on the fund-raising circuit for other candidates and his party. On Thursday night, he is the star attraction at a Washington fund-raiser expected to bring in $5 million for the National Republican Congressional Committee.
On Friday, he was traveling to Greensboro, Ga., for a pair of private appearances to thank those who have raised the most donations for his campaign. The news media will be barred from those events, unlike most of Bush's fund-raisers.
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