Posted on 05/24/2008 10:11:50 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
President Bush is scaling back next week’s fundraising swings for Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) at the request of the campaign, which wants the events closed to the press, POLITICO has learned.
The change — in both Arizona and Utah — is part of McCain’s delicate effort to find the balance between embracing an unpopular president and taking advantage of his huge continuing draw with well-heeled Republicans.
The Arizona event, which was to be at the Phoenix Convention Center, was the first time Bush was to have appeared with McCain since their White House meeting in March.
A McCain aide said: “The McCain campaign has a policy that fundraising events are closed press. In keeping with that policy, the campaign requested the event be moved to a private home.”
On Tuesday, the president was to appear with McCain at the Phoenix Convention Center at a McCain for President and Republican National Committee Victory Reception.
And on Wednesday, Bush was to appear at Salt Lake City’s Grand America Hotel with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney at a McCain for President and Republican National Committee Victory Reception (followed by a more exclusive dinner at the Romneys’ Park City home).
Now, both of the public events will be at private residences.
As recently as Wednesday, Salt Lake media were saying the event would be at the Grand America.
A White House official gave the same explanation as the McCain campaign: “As you know, we have a practice of having fundraisers in public venues as open to press and fundraisers in private residences closed to press to preserve the hosts' privacy. The [McCain campaign’s] practice has been to have all fundraisers be closed. And so a decision was made to move the location to comply with the practices.”
The Phoenix Business Journal reports that other factors also played a part: “Sources familiar with the situation said the Bush-McCain event was not selling enough tickets to fill the Convention Center space, and that there were concerns about more anti-war protesters showing up outside the venue than attending the fundraiser inside.”
--snip--
A McCain aide said: “The McCain campaign has a policy that fundraising events are closed press. In keeping with that policy, the campaign requested the event be moved to a private home.”
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No change in how he is doing things and he is free to do what he would when it comes to campaiging.
Besides, as long as you have a bunch of billionaires on your bandwagon and are willing to host fundraisers at their homes, who needs a sitting wartime President working the circuit for ya?
This mentality, although legal, reminds me of someone who has figured out a way to steal while being watched by surveillance cameras.
Since it’s from the politico how do you know it’s true???
Fair question, I guess we can just wait for the McCain response thru other sources if it isn’t.
Bush is a liability to pubbies and is an instant media attractant. McCain can’t risk a photo of himself in the same room with Bush campaigning for him or having his lobbyist pals and Mexican shill amigos showing up in a snapshot.
I guess loyalty is a bygone thing when it comes to politik,, no matter who signed his CFR legislation into law, let McCain determine what is toom much when it comes to torture, was even ready to sign his comprehensive immigration reform co-authored with Teddy?..
But as his Daddy said a long time ago,, “T’wouldn’t be prudent.” ;-)
“and Mexican shill amigos showing up in a snapshot.”
You got that absolutely right!
“Besides, as long as you have a bunch of billionaires on your bandwagon and are willing to host fundraisers at their homes, who needs a sitting wartime President working the circuit for ya?”
Not to mention that the sitting wartime Presidents’ numbers are in the toilet.
oddly enough, approval ratings for Congre$$ are even lower than the President, yet most incumbents will be re-elected.
always nice to have a fallback plan to raise dough... the old backdoor elites waddle thru. ;-)
Yep, this Democrat Congress approval rating is between 9-11%. Lowest in history.
Hard to figure the number is so low when ya look at how hard the Dems have reached out across the aisle to work with the pubs on energy and other issues that are so important to the continued health and prosperity of this nation. ;-)
I know. I’m especially fond of the $2 a gallon gas increase :) Thanks DEMS!
I heard the convention center event in Phoenix was moved due to poor ticket sales
“Ace” wouldn’t make a good pimple on George Bush’s butt!
If McCain really wanted to score points with the American people he would encourage “Mission Accomplished” Bush to say something nice about Bro’ Barak.
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