Cheney speaks at Jim Talent fundraiser

By CHRISTOPHER LEONARD

Associated Press Writer

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Vice President Dick Cheney is scheduled to speak this evening at a fundraiser in suburban St. Louis for U.S. Senator Jim Talent, R-Mo., who is seeking re-election in November.

Cheney was originally scheduled to speak at the dinner event in September, which was postponed due to Hurricane Katrina. The dinner is expected to take in $400,000 to $500,000 for Talent's campaign.

With $3.9 million in his campaign fund, Talent holds a wide lead over Democrat Clair McCaskill, who announced her candidacy in August. McCaskill, who is Missouri State Auditor, has raised roughly $700,000, according to her campaign.

Missouri Democrats criticized Cheney hours before the fundraiser began, emphasizing his links to Halliburton Co., which McCaskill's campaign called a "war profiteer" because of no-bid contracts the firm was granted for reconstruction in Iraq.

"Halliburton represents everything that's wrong in Washington today," said Jack Cardetti, a spokesman for the Missouri Democratic Party.

Talent's office did not immediately respond to the criticism.

Between 50 and 100 protesters will picket the event, according to The Emergency Campaign for America's Priorities. The group opposes budget cuts for agencies that help the disabled.