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President Talks Iraq, Elections at Fundraising Bash: President Bush Spoke About Rebuilding Iraq and Gave a Nod to Republican Senate Candidate Rep. Katherine Harris at a Party Fundraiser Friday

Posted on: Saturday, 18 February 2006, 06:00 CST

By Phil Long, The Miami Herald

Feb. 18--ORLANDO -- Surrounded by state Republican candidates hungry to share the spotlight with the president, George W. Bush talked a lot about Iraq during a fundraiser speech to the party faithful Friday night in Orlando.

"I believe there is an Almighty -- and the greatest gift of the Almighty, besides salvation, is freedom," Bush said to some of the biggest applause of the night. "Freedom is on the march and we're laying the foundations of peace for generations to come."

In a visit to Florida that for once didn't have a backdrop of hurricane damage, Bush returned to the state that played a pivotal role in getting him into the White House in 2000 and helping him keep it in 2004.

The president's dinner bash raised an estimated $2.5 to $3 million.

GULF OIL DRILLING

Earlier in the day in Tampa, after a meeting with generals who are managing the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, the president was questioned about offshore oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, a hot topic in Florida.

"Well, I made a commitment that nothing is going to happen within a hundred miles of this coastline, and I'm honoring the commitment," he said. "I don't care what people might be saying."

His comment came at a time when there are several attempts under way in Congress to move oil and gas exploration closer to the Florida coast. His position backs up his Interior Department, which wants to open some of a reserve-rich area off the Panhandle to drilling.

The department is promising a 100-mile buffer, but Florida lawmakers want more distance between the state's coastline and oil rigs.

In Florida, the GOP holds the governor's office, majorities in the Florida House and Senate, and all the state Cabinet offices. All office holders were in attendance Friday night.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson is the only non-Republican holding statewide office. U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris, a Republican from Longboat Key, is challenging Nelson, who is up for reelection in November.

'WOULD SURE BE NICE'

Bush gave Harris a subtle boost, noting that "it would sure be nice to have two United States senators who would confirm conservative judges."

Nelson voted against Samuel Alito, Bush's nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Though Bush's visit came at a time when his popularity is sagging in the polls, Harris said she has no plans to distance herself from the president and she thinks his numbers will go up when people get a better understanding of his policies on Iraq and the economy.

Democrats were quick to bash Bush's visit, issuing press releases before Air Force landed in Florida. Nelson's campaign used the visit as an opportunity for some fundraising of its own, noting that the money Bush raised will go to Florida races.

"There is no doubt that the president and Karl Rove have their eyes on Florida and desperately want to defeat Bill Nelson and put Katherine Harris in the U.S. Senate," Nelson's campaign manager, Chad Clanton said in an e-mail. "They know that this is going to end up a tight race and that putting early money into the campaign is going to be critical."

Miami Herald staff writer Lesley Clark contributed to this report.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Miami Herald

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Source: The Miami Herald

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