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CNN Saturday Morning News
Bush, the Fundraiser-in-Chief?
Aired June 21, 2003 - 08:03 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush is laying the financial groundwork for another four years in the White House. His campaign juggernaut swept through Greensboro, Georgia, last night and raised $2.25 million.
White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux, joining us live this morning with more on the president's campaign.
So it was a big night?
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: It was, Heidi. As a matter of fact, he's taking on another role as fundraiser-in- chief, last night greeting 800 fans at a Ritz-Carlton in Greensboro, California, raising more than $2 million. The event took place by a lodge owned by Mercer Reynolds, a former business partner of the president, now the national finance chairman of Mr. Bush's reelection campaign.
Now, this fund raising blitz began Tuesday in Washington. The president is going to be hitting New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Miami and Tampa. The goal, to raise $20 million by the end of the month, $200 million for the primary. And the purpose, they say, is for the president to set the pace, to set the agenda and the debate for the reelection campaign, starting with the economy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Two and a half years ago, we inherited an economy in recession. Then the attacks on our country occurred. And then scandals in corporate America and war affected the people's confidence.
But we acted. We passed up new laws to hold corporate criminals to account. And to get the economy going again, we have twice led the United States Congress to pass historic tax relief for the American people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Now, Heidi, with all this fundraising some critics, mostly Democratic presidential hopefuls, were saying that the president was subverting the democratic process by raising all of this money.
White House spokesman Ari Fleischer responded to that, saying that it's simple a way the American people expressing their support for the president. But critics shot back, saying there are very few Americans who afford a $2,000 plate dinner, one at least on Tuesday that was made up of hamburgers, hot dogs and nachos -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Does he have fundraising trips planned, Suzanne?
MALVEAUX: Absolutely. A lot on his plate in especially the next two weeks, because by the end of the month, they hope to raise $20 million. And actually, one of the aides said that it's really somewhat an intimidation effort to actually show the Democrats that, yes, the president can raise this type of money and he does not even have a Republican challenger.
COLLINS: And he can get it with a couple of hot dogs. Interesting.
All right. Suzanne Malveaux, thanks so much.
MALVEAUX: Sure.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired June 21, 2003 - 08:03 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush is laying the financial groundwork for another four years in the White House. His campaign juggernaut swept through Greensboro, Georgia, last night and raised $2.25 million.
White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux, joining us live this morning with more on the president's campaign.
So it was a big night?
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: It was, Heidi. As a matter of fact, he's taking on another role as fundraiser-in- chief, last night greeting 800 fans at a Ritz-Carlton in Greensboro, California, raising more than $2 million. The event took place by a lodge owned by Mercer Reynolds, a former business partner of the president, now the national finance chairman of Mr. Bush's reelection campaign.
Now, this fund raising blitz began Tuesday in Washington. The president is going to be hitting New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Miami and Tampa. The goal, to raise $20 million by the end of the month, $200 million for the primary. And the purpose, they say, is for the president to set the pace, to set the agenda and the debate for the reelection campaign, starting with the economy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Two and a half years ago, we inherited an economy in recession. Then the attacks on our country occurred. And then scandals in corporate America and war affected the people's confidence.
But we acted. We passed up new laws to hold corporate criminals to account. And to get the economy going again, we have twice led the United States Congress to pass historic tax relief for the American people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Now, Heidi, with all this fundraising some critics, mostly Democratic presidential hopefuls, were saying that the president was subverting the democratic process by raising all of this money.
White House spokesman Ari Fleischer responded to that, saying that it's simple a way the American people expressing their support for the president. But critics shot back, saying there are very few Americans who afford a $2,000 plate dinner, one at least on Tuesday that was made up of hamburgers, hot dogs and nachos -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Does he have fundraising trips planned, Suzanne?
MALVEAUX: Absolutely. A lot on his plate in especially the next two weeks, because by the end of the month, they hope to raise $20 million. And actually, one of the aides said that it's really somewhat an intimidation effort to actually show the Democrats that, yes, the president can raise this type of money and he does not even have a Republican challenger.
COLLINS: And he can get it with a couple of hot dogs. Interesting.
All right. Suzanne Malveaux, thanks so much.
MALVEAUX: Sure.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
