Talent gets visit from Bush aide in Senate bid

ST. LOUIS -- Twelve days before her boss was expected here to stump for Republican Senate candidate Jim Talent, a top aide to President Bush was in Missouri Wednesday to appear with Talent and help him raise money.

Karen Hughes is less widely known outside the Beltway, but behind the scenes in the West Wing she is one of the world's most powerful people.

Her appearance is an indication of the high priority Republicans are placing on Talent's race against Democratic Sen. Jean Carnahan.

"Now we need Jim Talent in the Senate fighting for a national energy policy that helps create jobs, health care for uninsured Americans and a strong national defense,"

Hughes said Wednesday at a luncheon fund raiser in Kansas City, Mo., before flying to St. Louis for a another fund raiser.

Hughes' appearance at the Women for Talent luncheon in Kansas City also was an indication of the high priority Talent is placing on neutralizing any gender-gap advantage Carnahan may have.