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Bush will help Coleman bring in the big bucks next week

Political scientists say the Aug. 21 visit is early enough not to be a big issue. Two DFL Senate hopefuls' campaigns call it a sign of too-cozy ties to the White House.

By Jake Sherman, Star Tribune

Last update: August 13, 2007 - 11:53 PM

WASHINGTON - President Bush will take a day away from his Texas ranch next week to attend a big-money fundraiser for Sen. Norm Coleman in Eden Prairie, leaving Coleman's would-be challengers sneering about the senator's relationship with the president.

Political pundits say that Bush's visit will likely bring piles of money and little else. Low approval ratings and furor over the war in Iraq will likely not touch Coleman more than a year before the 2008 election.

"At this stage in the campaign, the fundraiser and Bush's ability to bring out loyal Republican supporters and write out big checks [are] more important than the potential negatives," said Kathryn Pearson, a political scientist from the University of Minnesota. "The money trumps the headlines."People know that Norm Coleman is a Republican, and the Coleman campaign will cultivate an independent image, but this is August of the year before," said Steven Schier, chairman of the Political Science Department at Carlton College in Northfield, Minn.

The Aug. 21 fundraiser, at the home of Twin Cities philanthropists Bill and Tani Austin, will cost at least $1,000 to attend. For $10,000 in combined contributions to Coleman and the Republican Party, a couple will be listed as a co-host. For $14,600, they can be a host. Last year, Bush pulled in $500,000 in support of Rep. Michele Bachmann and close to $1 million in 2005 for Senate candidate Mark Kennedy.

The Austins have donated more than $100,000 to Republican causes. Bill Austin has already shelled out $7,300 to previous Coleman campaigns and about $10,000 to Kennedy.

DFL hopefuls Al Franken and Mike Ciresi seem to be on the same page about Bush's visit in support of Coleman. Andy Barr, Franken's communications director, said he would rather Coleman work to bring troops home than Bush to Minnesota.

"I think it's a perfect illustration of what we've been talking about all along," Barr said. "Norm Coleman isn't standing with working families. He's standing with Bush, and now he's hanging out with Bush."

Ciresi spokeswoman Leslie Sandberg said the candidate would "like to see Norm next to George Bush every single day."

Coleman campaign director Cullen Sheehan said "the most important thing is the senator is an independent voice for Minnesota ... Certainly he's worked with the president to make things better for Minnesota, and he's not afraid to use that relationship to better do his job."

Staff writer Kevin Diaz contributed to this report. Jake Sherman • 202-408-2723 • jsherman@startribune.com

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