Bush to visit rodeo

Never one to refuse an opportunity to show just how down-home, Real America, Mom & apple pie he is, President Bush will pay a visit to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo today.

When President Bush drops by the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo today, his eye will be as much on the Bubbas as the Brahman cattle.

The president has been working hard lately to rope in these socially conservative Southern white men who usually vote Republican but who may be tempted to stray because of the tight economy.

To reach these voters, the president has stepped up his appearances at sporting venues.

Bush flew to Florida recently to attend the Daytona 500 NASCAR race, opening the event with the traditional phrase, "Gentlemen, start your engines." And during a visit last month to Springfield, Mo., he made a stop at a supersize sports store to check out the fishing gear.

The Bush campaign also has targeted sports buffs by running some of its new political ads on the ESPN cable network.

I was going to make the point about Bush's recent Feel Good Tour Of The Heartland, which appears to be aimed at shoring up support among Bush's core demographics, but the Chron did it for me. Next stop: He'll be the opening act for a Marshall Tucker concert, followed by a ribbon-cutting at the grand opening of a bait stand.

Of course, we shouldn't forget the real reason for this trip, like every other trip Bush has taken.

Bush is sandwiching the livestock show visit between a luncheon campaign fund-raiser in Dallas and an evening money event in downtown Houston at the Hilton Americas-Houston.

[...]

The rodeo outing also gives Bush a financial advantage. Even though the trip to Houston is primarily for campaign fund-raising, the White House can bill some of the travel costs to taxpayers because the livestock show visit is considered an official presidential function.

Pretty much says it all.

UPDATE: Missed the related story earlier about that fundraiser.

Posted by Charles Kuffner on March 08, 2004 to The making of the President | TrackBack