GOoPers start worrying about Bush's poll #s

Remember when Republicans had zero worries about Bush's reelection chances? When they laughed at the Democratic Party field, seeing no real threats? Remember?

I'm sure you do. It was just last week.

But reality is suddenly starting to sink in.

With President Bush's poll numbers dropping, many of his fellow Republicans are uneasy about the state of the U.S. economy, rising budget deficits, and the U.S. military operation in Iraq.

Mind you, there's still plenty of cockiness to go around. But the more realistic types amongst them are starting to sweat. It's not just the polls, it's the president's obsession with raising gobs and gobs of money.

Some Republicans are concerned Bush seems to be spending an inordinate amount of time raising money for his 2004 re-election campaign race, lowering his profile from commander in chief to solicitor in chief and leaving him more open to Democratic assault.

Bush has been to 20 fund-raising events in 12 states and Washington since mid-June and has raised more than $60 million, on his way to a goal of $170 million for a Republican primary campaign for which he has no challengers.

"He is spending too much time raising money. The goal is unbelievably high," said one prominent Republican. Others are starting to complain about the multiple phone calls they are getting seeking contributions.

Posted September 14, 2003 08:40 AM | Comments (95)