McCain, Bush in joint fundraiser

PHOENIX, May 27 (UPI) -- President George Bush traveled to Phoenix Tuesday to attend a fundraiser for presumptive Republican presidential nominee Arizona Sen. John McCain.

The joint appearance in McCain's home state is the first for the two since Bush endorsed McCain March 5, CNN reported. Bush also will attend fundraising events for GOP candidates in New Mexico.

Despite his dismal approval ratings, Bush remains popular with the Republican party base and is a prolific fundraiser.

The Phoenix fundraiser originally was to be a public event at the Phoenix Convention center, but the McCain campaign said it was moved to a private residence because of privacy matters.

McCain has consistently trailed Sens. Barack Obama of Illinois and Hillary Clinton of New York, the two Democratic presidential candidates, in fundraising, CNN reported. The $17 million McCain raised in April pales compared to the nearly $31 million raised by Obama and the $21 million raised by Clinton.

Bush and McCain have mended a political feud that erupted in 2000 when the two engaged in a sometimes bitter battle for the Republican presidential nomination.