HONOLULU -- President George W. Bush makes his first visit to the islands Thursday on his way back from the Asia Pacific Summit. It will also be a big day for Republicans, as the president will bring in big bucks to his campaign and to Hawaii's Republican Party.
If you want to rub shoulders with President in Hawaii, you will have to pay big money. Supporters selling a $10,000 table will get close enough for one photo with the president. Supporters selling $20,000 worth of tickets get two photos with the president.
"I am on the ticket committee so I am very excited about that it entails me to take a picture with the president. So, I am excited about that," Rep. Barbara Marumoto said.
About 600 guests at the Hilton Hawaiian Village are expected raise $600,000 plus for the president's reelection campaign.
"It's exciting for Republicans in Hawaii to have the leader of the party and the leader of the country to consider Hawaii and important enough place to visit," fund-raiser host Galen Fox said.
About 20 supporters wanting to get even closer to the president are paying $10,000 each to attend a private party at the Kahala Mandarin Hotel. Their donations go to the Hawaii Republican Party.
Donors are allowed to give more to political parties than to individual candidates. In Hawaii, you can give $25,000 every two years to a political party.
The president will stop by the Kahala Mandarin party for about 30 minutes to chat with the big donors.
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