Campaign

Bush to campaign for LaHood successor

by David Matthews - 07/14/08 7:18 PM ET

President Bush will hold a $500-per-ticket fundraiser for 27-year-old state Rep. Aaron Schock (R), a hopeful for retiring Rep. Ray LaHood’s (R) seat in the 18th district.

Schock’s campaign said it has already sold $250,000 in tickets for the July 25 event in Peoria. Bush has raised nearly $70 million in the 31 political events he has attended this year.

{mosads}Bush’s support continues to be a double-edged sword. He remains a potent fundraiser, but because of his unpopularity some Republicans prefer not to associate themselves with him. Democrats, including Schock’s opponent, seized on the Bush fundraiser.

“We were a bit interested [Schock] would want to bring a president with that low of an approval rating, and it shows that for Aaron Schock money outweighs all political motive,” said Terry Towery, the campaign manager for radio farm broadcaster Colleen Callahan, the Democratic candidate. “What Bush stands for is big oil, and big oil has declared war on farmers.”

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Schock is the favorite in a conservative, mostly agricultural district, and his campaign said it was honored to have Bush visit.

“We’re honored [Bush] has recognized the promise Aaron holds for the future,” Schock’s campaign manager Steve Shearer said. “He will help raise the funds necessary to get Aaron’s exceptional values broadcasted out there.”

Shearer emphasized that the election is between Schock and Callahan and is not a referendum on the president.

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