Only 20 percent of Connecticut voters like the job President George Bush is doing, but that didn't stop his fellow Republicans from supporting the embattled leader Friday and opening their wallets to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign cash.
He received a warm welcome at Bradley International Airport from Gov. M. Jodi Rell as he arrived with U.S. Rep. Chris Shays, the state's lone Republican congressman. The president later attended a political reception in Kent for the state GOP and state Sen. David Cappiello, a Danbury Republican running for the 5th District congressional seat.About 425 people turned out for the event at former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger's home. Tickets cost $1,000 apiece; $10,000 for a picture with Bush. State GOP Chairman Christopher S. Healy said at least $700,000 was raised — about 60 percent will go to Cappiello's campaign.
"Clearly people believe has been a good president and will be shown to have been a good president," said Healy, adding that state Republicans are energized, despite Bush's poll numbers. "The truth is, this economy in America grew and we had a record number of jobs, we had strong exports, we had no terrorist attack post-9-11. George Bush did not take a lot of credit for that and maybe he should have."
*sigh* The fact that anyone can say this with a straight face at this point is so sad. CT Blogger gives his take here and here