Bush tries to win back GOP lawmakers
On Iraq, immigration, and Attorney General Gonzales, some staunch supporters have begun to defect.
from the June 14, 2007 edition
Page 3 of 3
"Right now, President Bush is systematically turning off his core supporters," says Michael Franc, vice president for governmental affairs at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank in Washington. "That means if you're on Capitol Hill, that dynamic is going to be intensified for Republican senators facing reelection [in 2008] and House members," who face voters every two years.
On an issue such as immigration reform, where support is still strong among business groups and other large constituencies in Washington, Bush can "retain a fair amount of clout and can shape opinion, because it will be reinforced with large institutional forces," he says. "But with the Iraq war, he's speaking directly to the American people. He can't galvanize large interest groups on his behalf."
Last week Sen. Lamar Alexander (R) of Tennessee joined Sen. Ken Salazar (D) of Colorado in cosponsoring legislation that would make the Iraq Study Group's recommendations the basis for future US strategy in Iraq. Three Republicans and three Democrats have signed on as cosponsors, and a companion bipartisan bill is pending in the House.
As a fundraiser, Bush is still the man
Still, the president remains an effective fundraiser for the GOP.
In a recent stop in Louisville, Ky., Bush raised $2.1 million in a joint event for Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell and the National Republican Senatorial Committee – a record amount for a single event in the state.
In the luncheon on Tuesday, Bush told Sen. Jeff Sessions, a lead critic of the immigration reform bill, that he still planned to come to Alabama for a fundraiser for him next week, despite their differences. "I disagree with him on this bill, but he doesn't hold grudges," said Senator Sessions.
"The president continues to be extremely popular on the stump and was critical to Republican candidates ... in fundraising in 2002, 2004, and 2006. His impact cannot be overstated," says Tracey Schmitt, spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee.
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