President Bush stopped off in Colorado on Friday for a quick fundraising luncheon with Republican congressional candidate Rick O’Donnell.
The president arrived at Buckley Air Force Base and stepped off Air Force One with O’Donnell at his side.
The two raised about $600,000 at a private gathering of 310 people in Cherry Hills Village, O’Donnell’s campaign said.
“I had the time of my life,” said O’Donnell, running in the 7th Congressional District. “To have the president of the United States come out and support me in my campaign and a great fundraiser was wonderful as well.”
Meanwhile, Democratic Rep. Diana DeGette led about 200 protesters, many holding signs with red letters that said “Shame,” to denounce the president’s veto Wednesday of DeGette’s bill supporting embryonic stem-cell research.
“Are you mad today?” DeGette asked the crowd, which cheered. “I’m mad, too. I’m mad because President Bush is just a mile that way, of course in a sealed-off enclave raising money for an anti-embryonic stem-cell research candidate.”
O’Donnell’s three Democratic opponents – Ed Perlmutter, Peggy Lamm and Herb Rubenstein – joined DeGette, each giving testimonials of family members who they said could have been helped by stem-cell research. The 7th District seat is being vacated by GOP gubernatorial candidate Bob Beauprez.
A few war protesters also were present, including some who drove a bus with a banner that said, “War won’t make it safer.”
But Bush’s route to the private fundraiser at Diane and Charlie Gallagher’s house took him past only a smattering of protest signs.
Before heading to the posh golf-course-side houses south of Denver, the president sat down with 10 military members at the Tamale Kitchen Fiesta restaurant in Aurora.
With reporters present, Bush told the servicemen and servicewomen that “this country supports you and admires you, and appreciates your dedication. You’re doing some hard work. It’s hard work to defeat terrorists, killers that wanted to achieve their objective.”
When prompted by a question about a trip Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she planned to make to the Middle East, Bush said only that he planned to meet with her before she leaves.
“We’re going to have a good visit,” he said.
Staff writer George Merritt can be reached at 303-820-1657 or gmerritt@denverpost.com.
