PEORIA -
Though his approval rating is one of the lowest of all U.S. presidents, George Bush is expected to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for 18th Congressional District candidate Aaron Schock when he appears at a fundraiser in the Peoria area later this month.
Bush, who last was in Peoria in January 2007 to visit Caterpillar Inc., will visit this time for the sole benefit of Schock. He'll be at a $500 per head fundraiser at a yet-to-be determined private residence on July 25, Schock said.
"It's humbling that out of 435 congressional races that (Bush) is willing to take time to help me and that I'm on his radar screen," said Schock, currently a state House representative.
With Illinois U.S. Sen. Barack Obama at the top of the ballot in the November general election, current 18th District seat holder Ray LaHood, R-Peoria, said Republicans - particularly in Illinois - need all the help they can get.
"Aaron and other Republicans need to make sure that voters know they have to go down the ticket and cross over and vote. It's going to take money to persuade people that these folks are on the ballot," LaHood said. "It's no secret that President Bush is very low in the polls, but I believe based on his visit here 18 months ago, central Illinois has a very good feeling about the president."
Evidently they feel that Colleen Callahan has a chance else they wouldn't be wasting their time.
I guess that I am going to be busy this fall. :-)
Note: I've posted stuff here before; I opened a new account as I have not been able to retrieve my old password (which I have forgotten)
Feel free to steal or improve.
