The American Spectator

Washington Prowler

(Page 2 of 2)

Bush is looking to calm the gale-force, potentially catastrophic winds of controversy that are buffeting Simon's campaign. In just the last week, Simon has been embarrassed by news that he laid off several dozen salaried staff due to conserve cash in what is likely to be a record-breaking California governor's race for spending.

"We may not win it, but the White House is doing everything it can to help us," says a Simon fundraiser. "Too bad the White House's people out here weren't willing to do the same."

At this stage, those in the Simon campaign believe the hand-picked crew running the state GOP are going their own way, ignoring advice from Karl Rove and company in Washington to fundraise and help the Simon campaign in the final three months of the race. "They [the White House] say they have asked the state party to help out, but we get nothing," says the fundraiser.

p>Bush is expected to appear with Simon on at least two campaign stops and appear at one fundraiser. The cash pulled in from Bush's visit should help cover some TV and radio buys the Simon campaign badly needs to hit back at negative ads Democrat Gray Davis has been running over the airwaves. br> /p>

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