US President George W. Bush will begin a series of appearances this week in support of Republican candidates facing tough contests in the mid-term elections in November - suggesting that despite his deepening political troubles he remains his party's best fundraiser.

But in a change of strategy from the 2002 congressional elections, when Mr Bush gambled on his own popularity to campaign publicly for candidates, he will spend the next two months attending mostly private fundraising events.

It is a clear sign of how nervous some Republican candidates are of being photographed with Mr Bush in light of the opposition to the Iraq war and his falling approval ratings, which have dropped well below 40 per cent. However, few wish to shun his unmatched ability to raise funds from wealthy donors.

One year after Hurricane Katrina battered the Gulf Coast and his political standing, Mr Bush travelled yesterday to Gulfport, Mississippi, and acknowledged that recovery is still years away.

"There is hope down here, there is still a lot of work to be done," Mr Bush said. "This is an anniversary but it doesn't mean it's an end. Frankly, it's just the beginning of what is going to be a long recovery."

After he leaves New Orleans today, having marked the anniversary of Katrina - one of the most politically disastrous episodes of his second term - Mr Bush will attend a private fundraising lunch in Arkansas for Asa Hutchinson, a Republican candidate who is struggling against his Democrat opponent.

Like dozens of similar events in recent months, the lunch will be closed to the media, enabling the candidate to keep a distance from Mr Bush while benefiting from his ability to raise thousands of dollars in funding.

"I can remember in recent years when local television stations would devote most of their coverage to a visit by the President," said Charles Cook, a non-partisan political analyst. "Now he shoots in, does a fundraiser in a private home, and shoots right back out. There's no downside for the candidate, and yet he is $US500,000 better off."

Mr Bush privately concedes some candidates are reluctant to be seen with him, but he knows his ability to raise cash is still critical to the Republican effort to retain control of Congress. This year, he has raised more than $US161 million ($212 million) from more than 50 events for his party's candidates.

A Republican Senate candidate in Maryland, Michael Steele, recently failed to attend a speech in his state by Mr Bush on the Iraq war, but appeared later at a private fundraiser that netted his campaign $US500,000.

David Frum, a former speechwriter for Mr Bush, said: "The President does not need to be on television all the time, or on stage with the candidate, to be an asset to the party."

The greatest threat to Republicans in the election remains the Iraq war. Mr Bush and his chief political strategist, Karl Rove, have made clear that their strategy will be try to link Iraq to the war on terror - the only issue on which Mr Bush has an advantage.

"Some Democrats say we should win the war on terrorism, yet those same Democrats turn around and say we should cut and run in Iraq," Mr Rove said.

The Times

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