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Bush Trip Nets $1 Million, Touts Trade

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By WILLIAM MARCH, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 13, 2007

PINELLAS PARK - President Bush scooped up $1 million for the national Republican Party on a quick jaunt through Pinellas Park before heading off to Miami to give a speech on trade Friday.

Bush touched down about 10 a.m. at St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport, traveled by motorcade about eight miles to the home of developer Brent Sembler in the Bayou Club subdivision, then scooted back to the airport and took off shortly after noon.

The main focus of Bush's trip, according to a White House spokesman, was a speech on trade Bush gave in Miami after the Pinellas Park stop.

Bush is urging Congress to pass free trade agreements with Peru, Colombia and Panama, and work toward an agreement with South Korea.

Spokesman Tony Fratto said it's also part of an increase in fundraising Bush is doing to help Republicans in anticipation of the 2008 election.

'I think you can expect to see him doing a lot more,' Fratto told reporters on Air Force One, according to a White House transcript of the press briefing.

Bush met privately with Cuban-American community activists for about 40 minutes before the Miami speech.

In Clearwater, a gathering of protesters, which reached about 70 people at its height, assembled along Roosevelt Boulevard to greet Bush on his arrival.

They were frustrated, however, because police kept them almost out of sight of the airport entrance used by the motorcade. 'We're stuck in a free-speech zone,' one yelled.

Still, they shouted disapproval of the Iraq war and waved signs with messages including 'Where is bin Laden' and 'George, How Much Is This Costing Us,' a reference to the cost of presidential travel for a party fundraiser.

A handful of Bush supporters, some waving flags, gathered across the street. A few protesters were seen among the mostly friendly crowds that appeared along Bush's route to get a look at a presidential motorcade.

Typically, when a presidential trip includes both political activity such as a fundraiser, and official business such as the trade speech, the cost of the travel is split between public money and political party or campaign money.
White House spokesman Blair Jones said the allocation is based on a formula in use since the Reagan administration: 'The total cost of the trip, less security costs, is allocated based on the percentage of time spent on political and official activity.'

Florida Sen. Mel Martinez met Bush at the airport and traveled with him to Miami.

Martinez said he intended to talk to Bush about Latin America and trade, and about Martinez's tenure as national Republican Party chairman. Martinez said he expects his tenure in that job will end soon after a Republican presidential nominee emerges in the primary process. That nominee will take over much of the party machinery and likely will want a chairman of his own choosing.

Martinez said he also would urge Bush not to veto the Water Resources Development Act. Bush has threatened to veto the massive, $23 billion measure because of its cost. Both Martinez and U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson say they've urged Bush not to veto it, in part because it contains funding for the next steps in Everglades restoration.

Sembler is the son of shopping center developer Mel Sembler, long a nationally prominent Republican fundraiser, who was appointed to ambassadorships by both Bush and his father when he was president.

Brent Sembler is taking on an increasingly important role in GOP fundraising: He was finance chairman for Charlie Crist's campaign for governor last year, and is involved along with his father in Mitt Romney's presidential campaign.

Reporter Keith Morelli contributed to this report. Reporter William March can be reached at (813) 259-7761 or wmarch@tampatrib.com.

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