Bush is scheduled to headline a Swann fundraiser at the Lancaster Host Resort in East Lampeter Township this evening after starting the day in York County.

The president's appearance comes at a time when Swann, a former wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers, trails incumbent Gov. Ed Rendell in the polls and fundraising.

"If Swann is going to get back into this race, he has to raise money, raise it quickly and get on television and radio quickly," said G. Terry Madonna, director of Franklin & Marshall College's Keystone Poll.

Access to the event is costly. Attendees will pay $650 per person or $1,000 per couple. For $10,000, people can meet the president and have a picture taken with him.

Melissa Walters, a spokeswoman for Swann's campaign, said several hundred people will attend, but declined to say how much money the event is expected to raise.

"I'm not going to speculate on the amount," she said. "I expect us to do well."

While Bush tours York and Lancaster counties, Rendell will be stumping in Centre County today, campaign spokesman Dan Fee said.

"He wants people to vote for him," Fee said, "not because someone else backs him."

As of June, Rendell has raised about $20 million in cash, four times the amount Swann has in his war chest.

Fletcher McClellan, provost and chairman of Elizabethtown College's political science department, said Bush could help turn that around.

"It's not a bad time for the president to come, given concerns recently about terrorism and homeland security," McClellan said. "He's coming in as commander in chief."

Today's appearance marks the fourth time Bush has appeared in Lancaster County since taking office in 2001. He campaigned twice here in 2004 and also made an appearance in 2001.

Bush will tour the Harley- Davidson plant and participate in an economic forum in York County before flying by helicopter to Lancaster Mennonite High School along Millstream Road about 4 p.m.

A motorcade will transport Bush to the Host along Route 30. Bush, Swann and Lancaster County Republican Committee chairman Dave Dumeyer are expected to deliver speeches.

The event originally was scheduled to be held at the Eden Resort Inn in Manheim Township, but security concerns at the Eden forced a shift to the Host.

When the president arrives at the Host, he will be greeted by both supporters and protesters.

"He'll give somewhat of a Republican stump speech about lower taxes and smaller government, less government spending," state Rep. Scott Boyd, a West Lampeter Republican, said. "That message, it has been lost under the Rendell administration. This last state budget is just massive."

State Rep. Katie True, a Republican from East Hempfield Township, said Bush's appearance will have an impact later in the campaign.

"Swann needs to get on the airwaves," she said. "The president coming in at this point for a fundraiser "¦ will give (Swann) access to the air. Without that, you just can't get your message out."

Not everyone is thrilled with the president's visit. Protesters who oppose the Iraq War and the president's environmental policies are expected to line both sides of Route 30 outside the Host.

"We have people coming from as far away as Reading, State College, Bethlehem, Coatesville ... " said Sherry Wolfe, a spokeswoman for Lancaster Coalition of Peace and Justice, which is organizing the protest.

Wolfe said organizers want to keep the protest peaceful, but send a strong message.

"(Bush) couldn't protect Americans in America" from Hurricane Katrina, she said. "Today, those people have no homes. They are being ignored. So if something happens with terrorists, I have no confidence" in Bush.

Pennsylvania voters disapprove of Bush's overall performance by a 64 to 33 percent margin, according to this week's Quinnipiac University poll of 1,384 state voters.

Walters declined to address Bush's low approval rating.

"We're just focusing on having a good event and a good day with the president," she said.

Dave Pidgeon's e-mail address is dpidgeon@lnpnews.com. blog comments powered by Disqus