WASHINGTON -- A senator from New Jersey is criticizing White House adviser Karl Rove for planning to attend a North Dakota fundraiser the same day Hurricane Rita is expected to hit Texas.

Democrat Frank Lautenberg sent a letter to President Bush Friday saying "it would be expected that Mr. Rove would be at his post '24/7' during this crisis."

Rove is scheduled to attend a Fargo fundraiser for the North Dakota Republican Party on Saturday. He also is scheduled to speak with Gov. John Hoeven, whom some Republicans are pushing to challenge Democratic Sen. Kent Conrad.

Rove is White House deputy chief of staff and Bush's top political adviser.

"There will be plenty of time for fundraising," Lautenberg said in the letter to Bush. "But for now, putting lives back together and rebuilding communities must take priority over building political war chests."

White House Spokesman Allen Abney said Rove is still planning to go to North Dakota. President Bush will monitor Rita's approach from the U.S. Northern Command in Colorado Springs, he said.

"It appears that his only interest in this is launching a partisan attack," Abney said of Lautenberg.

State officials also defended Rove.

"We are obviously excited to have Karl come to North Dakota," state GOP Director Jason Stverak said Friday. "He is an incredibly effective leader."

Conrad is up for re-election in 2006, and Hoeven has been touted by state and national political officials as his strongest potential Republican opponent. But the governor has been quiet on his plans, deferring questions on a run without denying he is considering it.

"Rove is putting politics over people," said Rick Gion, a spokesman for the state Democratic Party. "What is he doing politicking in North Dakota when the people of the Gulf Region need his help?"

The White House pushed several high-profile Republicans to run in the 2004 election cycle, including Republican John Thune of South Dakota. Thune ousted Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle last November.

A spokesman for Conrad echoed criticism by Lautenberg and Gion.

"I find Karl Rove's sense of priorities very curious," said Chris Thorne.

Commentary:
Rove, the believed CIA leaker and advisor to the president failed to tell Bush to end his vacation while Katrina was bearing down on Louisiana and is now in ND playing politics while Rita hits Texas and Louisiana. Does this man ever do his real job?