WASHINGTON -- It has stopped! U.S. President George W. Bush's men have determined that his slide has ended. The latest round of polling has him in the mid to low 50s.
That is good for the president, but not nearly as good as the report from his fundraising department. His campaign has raised $83.9 million since beginning the re-election campaign in May, and it has $70 million of that left to spend. The campaign raised about $49.5 million from July through September. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney have a new round of fundraising events scheduled this week, including two in California headlined by Bush. The record receipts were more than triple the amount raised by Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, the Democrat's top fundraiser.
The Bush money magic is really in his team. In 2000, he had his "rangers" -- individuals who raised $100,000 or more -- who set a record in fundraising. This year he has a new fundraising elite including 100 rangers, who raised at least $200,000 apiece, and 185 "pioneers," who collected at least $100,000 each. This organization consisting of just 285 men and women has collected $38.5 million or more, which was at least 45 percent of Bush's total take. That is real fundraising power.