George W Bush (approval rating: 29%) is used to being unpopular with the US electorate. But now he is even losing the support of the rightwingers in his party — and they’re showing their displeasure in dollars, not just percentage points.
In the run-up to the last two American election campaigns, eager Republicans lined their party’s coffers by paying up to $25Â 000 to have the president pose for a picture with them at fundraising events. Last year, as his popularity dwindled, the party was forced to cut the price to $10Â 000. And now, in advance of the 2008 elections, you can say cheese with the 43rd president for a mere $5Â 000.
To put that in perspective, sharing a Kodak moment with presidential adviser Karl Rove will set you back just $1Â 000 and even Vice-President Dick Cheney is level pegging with Dubya. A snap with Laura Bush, the first lady, is reported to go for $10Â 000.
If it was just the pictures, he could probably cope. But it seems that every time the commander-in-chief shows his face at a fundraiser, the takings plummet.
The annual fundraising dinner for Republican congressional candidates in Washington last week raised $15,4-million — against $27-million last year and $23-million in 2005 and 2004. Even the $10,5-million he squeezed from loyalists at this year’s annual gala for the Republican Party looks a bit shabby compared with $17-million last year, $15-million the year before and $38,5-million in 2004.
The Republicans are ignoring the problem, mouthing platitudes about “enthusiasm” from supporters. But Democrats are putting the boot in: “Republican Senate candidates have been afraid to be seen in public with the president since last year, but they could at least count on him to raise unprecedented amounts of money for their campaigns,” said Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. “Now he’s not even good for that.” — Â