Members of Bush economic team hit campaign trail

Members of President Bush's economic team have been leading the charge as Cabinet members fan out across the country to help preserve Republican control of Congress.

Much in demand is Office of Management and Budget Director Rob Portman, a former member of Congress who has appeared on behalf of several candidates in his home state of Ohio. Portman last Saturday attended a rally with Rep. Jean Schmidt at her headquarters in Ohio's 2nd District, which he represented before joining the Bush administration.

He has also logged Ohio appearances for GOP Rep. Steve Chabot and House Republican Conference Chairwoman Deborah Pryce and traveled to Virginia Beach, Va., for Rep. Thelma Drake, R-Va. Portman also recently attended a National Republican Congressional Committee event in Georgia and this week met with the editorial board of the Cincinnati Enquirer, where he put in a pitch for Schmidt.

On Monday he will journey to Indiana's 9th District on behalf of GOP Rep. Mike Sodrel. Last month, Portman appeared at a fundraiser for Ohio GOP gubernatorial candidate Kenneth Blackwell and joined embattled Sen. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, for an event in Cincinnati.

Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez has been aggressive on the hustings, traveling widely since the spring and making stops on behalf of GOP candidates in Illinois, Colorado, Arizona, Florida, Ohio, New York, Minnesota, Indiana, Iowa, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, according to an aide. Gutierrez last week was in New York stumping for Rep. John (Randy) Kuhl, R-N.Y., and Ray Meier, the Republican candidate in New York's 24th District.

Labor Secretary Elaine Chao appeared with Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., Tuesday during a Labor Department conference and is scheduled to appear at an event Friday with DeWine. But Labor officials described the appearances as non-political, saying the events Chao was attending with Santorum and DeWine had been scheduled long in advance.

Education Secretary Margaret Spellings Tuesday did a roundtable discussion on competitiveness and innovation with Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M., and then held a media availability with Wilson afterward in Albuquerque at the University of New Mexico.