Bush stumps for candidate facing an image problem

STOCKTON, Calif. -- President Bush began a two-day California crisscross in search of cash for GOP gubernatorial candidate Bill Simon's ailing campaign by complimenting the candidate's business experience, unswayed by questions about how a fraud verdict against Simon's investment firm squares with Bush's tough talk on corporate crooks.

At a fund raiser at an airport hangar here, Bush called Simon "the next governor" and "a breath of fresh air" that California desperately needs.

"It's your money and you better have somebody who understands that, that concept, and somebody who will watch the budget," Bush said. "Bill Simon is a proven businessman who can get that done."

Speculation had run high in this politically important state that Bush wanted no public side-by-side viewing of the pair after William E. Simon & Sons, controlled by Simon's family, was slapped with a $78 million civil penalty last month.

But Simon led the receiving line when Bush stepped off Air Force One in Stockton. Although Simon was traveling on Bush's plane southward, he did not join the presidential motorcade to -- nor was he mentioned during -- an earlier public campaign-style welcome rally at the historic Stockton Memorial Civil Auditorium.

After lunch, Bush headed to Orange County in Southern California to harvest more political money for Simon at a private evening reception. Saturday morning would find the president again hitting up Republican donors over breakfast in Los Angeles.

Scheduled before verdict

The White House was calculating that canceling the private events, which had been scheduled before the verdict, would be worse for Bush in a state he is hoping to cultivate.

Indeed, Bush's top political strategist suggested the president's time in California had as much, if not more to do, with Bush's own prospects in 2004 as Simon's in November because of the grass-roots organizing that presidential attention can mobilize.

"It's a state that if you ignore, you get what you play for -- nothing," said presidential adviser Karl Rove. "This is a big state and a big important race."

Simon was not named in the suit and says he thinks the verdict, which is being appealed, will be overturned.