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NewsAugust 30, 2002

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- President Bush blazed new records in raising campaign cash Thursday as events in two states -- his 49th and 50th fund-raisers of the year -- pushed his total to nearly $110 million and provided fresh evidence that money is the oxygen of American political life...

By Ron Fournier, The Associated Press

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- President Bush blazed new records in raising campaign cash Thursday as events in two states -- his 49th and 50th fund-raisers of the year -- pushed his total to nearly $110 million and provided fresh evidence that money is the oxygen of American political life.

Republicans once accused Bill Clinton of trading presidential prestige for political donations. Now the GOP controls the White House, and Bush is cashing in on his cachet, too.

"The commander in chief has become the fund-raiser in chief. And not just this president, any president," said Art English, a political science professor at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock who watched Clinton rise from the state house to the White House.

Stumping for GOP

At Thursday's fund-raising events, Bush collected $1.1 million for three GOP candidates in Oklahoma and Arkansas. That was on top of at least $108.7 million raised earlier at events in some 20 states and the District of Columbia, according to Associated Press tabulations of figures released by the White House and the GOP campaigns.

Two events alone brought in a record-breaking $30 million apiece.

Just in the last month, while using his Texas ranch as a political base, Bush raised money in 11 states -- seven of which are vital to his re-election prospects in 2004.

His numbers far surpass Clinton's at this point in his presidency, and establish Bush as perhaps the nation's most prolific political money man.

With control of the House and Senate at stake, "The president is going to help elect those who will help implement his agenda," said White House spokesman Scott McClellan.

In Clinton's home state, Bush was the main attraction at a $500-a-plate fund-raiser for Sen. Tim Hutchinson, who is seeking re-election in a competitive race against Democrat Mark Pryor.

It's one of the nation's most-watched campaigns in the battle for control of the Senate. Bush hopes his wartime popularity will rub off on Hutchinson and other GOP candidates.

"Thankfully, people like Tim Hutchinson backed my call for tax relief," Bush said. "You see, we read from the same playbook."

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In Oklahoma, Bush raised $500,000 for gubernatorial candidate Steve Largent and Sen. James Inhofe, who is seeking a second full term. Republicans paid $1,000 for a chicken-and-beans lunch and to hear Bush promote his domestic and war policies.

In 2000, Bush became the first presidential candidate to turn down federal matching money in the primary season. He raised more than $100 million to finance the race on his own.

Bush is likely to reject federal money again for his 2004 re-election bid, and Democratic presidential hopefuls are already studying whether they can raise enough money to follow suit.

Escalating costs of polling, travel, consultant fees and, especially, TV advertising have created an unquenchable thirst for campaign cash.

"President Clinton saw the advantages Republicans had in technology and the ability to raise money and he became obsessed in getting Democrats in the game," English said. "President Bush understands that a lot is at stake in the congressional elections so he's working hard, as Clinton did, to make sure his party isn't left behind."

Making matters worse, leaders of both parties are scrambling to raise millions of dollars in "soft money" -- unlimited, unregulated donations -- before those contributions are restricted under a new campaign finance law.

Taxpayers foot most of the bill for Bush's trip, because the White House organized a brief policy event after scheduling the fund-raiser. Bush announced that Arkansas is one of five states getting a total of $2.4 million to develop pre-college classes.

Earlier, in Oklahoma, Bush was greeted at the airport by Largent, who spent more than $1.5 million to win the GOP nomination Tuesday despite being matched against two Republicans who raised less than $10,000. The former professional football star resigned from the House early this year to try to succeed term-limited Republican Gov. Frank Keating.

Clinton and his party raised millions more than his 1996 rival, Bob Dole. Democratic donors were offered White House sleepovers, and Clinton's party was accused of taking illegal money from China.

Though Bush has been more subtle about doling out White House invitations, several prominent GOP donors have spent the night.

"All this shows that Bush, who tried to avoid comparing himself to Clinton at all costs in every way, has picked up that president's mantle," said Steven Weiss of the Center for Responsive Politics in Washington.

Most Democrats acknowledge the president is doing nothing wrong or illegal, but they say his actions are hypocritical.

"Republicans criticize Clinton for raising record amounts and selling the Lincoln bedroom. Democrats jump on Bush for raising so much money," said Democratic consultant Jim Duffy of Washington. "You know what? We're both guilty."

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