Bush defies unpopularity to raise 1.7m in one night for McCain

After a 90-minute fund-raiser out of the public eye, McCain travelled to the airport with the U.S. president in his limousine and gave a brief wave to photographers and reporters before he boarded Air Force One. Neither spoke a word.

"Every shot that comes out through Election Day where McCain is sharing a podium with the president is going to be a day when more ammunition is provided for the Democrats for the fall campaign," said Anthony Corrado, a professor of government at Colby College in Maine.

Colleagues: John McCain and his wife, Cindy, walks with President Bush before the President boarded Air Force One on Tuesday

The president's remarks to donors originally were scheduled to be public, but McCain refuses media coverage of fund-raisers so Bush's event was moved to a private residence, where it was secluded from reporters. Sources close to the campaign said McCain was to raise about £1.7 million there.

Bush, whose popularity rating is at a record low, 23 per cent in the latest Reuters/Zogby poll, is on a three-day fund-raising tour to help fill McCain coffers, but the candidate is skipping the other two private fund-raising events in Utah on Wednesday that the president will headline for him.

"On the one hand they want to keep their distance from the president in order to avoid being cast as a third Bush term, yet at the same time they need to tap into the fund-raising capacity of the president," Mr Corrado said.

Despite wrapping up the Republican nomination, Mr McCain has lagged his Democratic rivals in raising money even though they have not finished their contest. McCain raised £9 million in April while New York Senator Hillary Clinton pulled in £10.5 million and Illinois Senator Barack Obama attracted £15 million.

The long goodbye: President Bush waves before boarding Air Force One yesterday as he began a three-day trip to Arizona, home state of John McCain

As Democrats try to make the "third Bush term" label stick, Mr McCain has tried to maintain a delicate balance, supporting Bush on his Iraq war approach while parting ways on issues like how to address global climate change.

The latest poll found Bush's approval rating fell 4 points to 23 per cent, a record low for pollster John Zogby. Congress fared worse, however, falling 5 points to 11 per cent.

In a time-honored practice by presidents on the trail, Bush has scheduled non-campaign events on his three-day, five-state trip, which helps defray the enormous costs of hosting the presidential entourage for which candidates must pay.

Mr Bush stopped at a cable plant in Mesa, Arizona that makes wiring for military and commercial aircraft and he said the economic stimulus package approved by Congress to ward off a recession "is just beginning to kick in and it's going to make a positive contribution to economic growth."

In addition, Republicans are talking openly about the difficulties they face holding on to the White House and retaking control of Congress in November, noting the unpopular war in Iraq that has lasted years longer than expected.

They also point to the teetering economy as well as soaring gasoline and food prices. Plus, Republicans in recent months have lost three special elections for vacant seats in the House of Representatives in districts they have traditionally held.

In a sign Mr Bush's problems likely extend beyond the top of the ticket, the other two fund-raisers the president will attend this week for Republicans seeking seats in the House are also closed to the media.

"The political atmosphere facing House Republicans this November is the worst since Watergate and is far more toxic than the fall of 2006 when we lost 30 seats," Representative Tom Davis, a Virginia Republican, said in a memo to fellow Republicans.

Democrats now hold a 236-199 advantage in the House. Republicans have seen some 28 members decide to retire or seek another office, versus seven Democrats.

Senate Democrats only have to defend 12 seats versus 23 Republicans must guard.