Bush courts Missouri voters, raises record $2.8 million

ST. LOUIS -- President Bush said he is laying the foundation for a "great victory in Missouri," a state he visited for the 14th time on Monday after narrowly carrying it in 2000.

Part of the foundation is financial: Bush collected $2.8 million from his dinner and reception at America's Center, a Missouri record for a one-time event. Sam Fox, the St. Louis millionaire who is Bush's state finance chairman, said the evening's haul set a Missouri fund-raising record -- eclipsing a $2 million event held by Democratic presidential candidate Dick Gephardt, a congressman from St. Louis.

Ann Wagner of St. Louis County, the Republican national co-chairwoman, called the event significant for its timing, turnout and location. It was Bush's first fund-raising event of the new year, which she said highlighted Missouri's status as a White House battleground.

"Missouri is still a swing state and it comes down to our ground game, and we are running that ground game in Missouri like we are running behind," Wagner said in an interview. "So it's huge that the president is coming to the state to lead a winning effort as 2004 begins."

Bush was introduced by three-term Sen. Kit Bond, who is seeking re-election, and he was joined on the stage by Sen. Jim Talent. Bush recognized by name several Missouri politicians in the audience, including Secretary of State Matt Blunt, who is expected to formally announce his candidacy for governor next week.

In person

Bush was repeatedly interrupted by applause from almost 1,200 supporters who paid $2,000 per person for chicken, chocolate cake and the chance to share breathing space -- if not a handshake along a rope line -- with the president.

"It lifts my spirits to see so many people here," Bush said, saying he was glad to be back in "this important state of Missouri."

Not everyone in St. Louis was welcoming. The AFL-CIO and other labor organizations protested outside the Bush fund-raiser, criticizing the president's proposal to end overtime pay for certain categories of workers.

For Bush, Missouri is important again in 2004. He carried the state by fewer than 79,000 votes in 2000, and has been working to hold the 11 electoral votes of Harry Truman's home state in the Republican column.

Bush has named Rep. Kenny Hulshof to the high-profile role of his state campaign spokesman, and is tapping Lloyd Smith, state aide to Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, as his state campaign manager. Smith ran Talent's successful 2002 Senate race.

Bush told the audience that his efforts are part of "laying the foundation for what's going to be a great victory in Missouri."

"It's absolutely a dog fight for Missouri in the general election, and Bush's presence here shows it's nowhere near in the certain column for him," said Democratic strategist Roy Temple.

There are historical reasons to court Missouri, too: The state has picked the winner of every presidential contest in the 20th century except 1956, when a farm drought pushed the state to Democrat Adlai Stevenson, of neighboring Illinois.

In April, Bush spoke to defense workers at a Boeing Co. plant in St. Louis, praising them for producing jet fighters for the war in Iraq.

The next month, Bush flew into the Ozarks to offer hugs and sympathy to residents of tornado-ravaged Pierce City. During August and September, Bush made two Missouri appearances -- raising money for Bond, then telling a Kansas City audience 10 days later that the economy was starting to grow again.

In contrast, Missouri Democrats haven't seen much of their party's nine presidential hopefuls in person, partly because Gephardt is assumed to have a home-state advantage and because the campaigns are putting resources elsewhere, mainly the early primary states of Iowa and New Hampshire.

Gephardt is spending days at a time in Iowa, where the Jan. 19 Democratic caucuses could make or break his second White House bid.

Bush's many visits to Missouri show "that he understands this election is going to be decided in the Midwest, in states like Missouri," Gephardt said. "That's where I can beat him and that's why he keeps coming back to these places because he's concerned that I can defeat him."

Missouri's presidential primaries are Feb. 3, with only token opposition for Bush.