President's visit will aid state GOP

ST. PETERSBURG -- President Bush will visit a St. Petersburg computer parts distributor Friday and stop at St. Pete Beach for a GOP fundraiser.

Bush plans to visit America II Electronics, a privately owned company on 118th Ave N that distributes computer chips and other electronics components. He also is expected to give a brotherly assist to Gov. Jeb Bush by attending a state party fundraiser at the Don CeSar Beach Resort and Spa.

The White House would not confirm the visit Tuesday and asked local and state party officials to keep mum too. None of the Pinellas events were expected to be open to the public.

"I can tell you I've cleared my calendar for Friday," said St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker, who has worked hard on campaigns for both Bush brothers.

This will be the president's first trip to Pinellas since he won the presidency, but he has visited Florida eight times. He stopped in Tampa in June.

The president lately has been traveling across the country frequently, blending politicking for Republican candidates and events aimed at promoting his agenda.

His Pinellas fundraiser, Republicans said, would raise money for the state GOP.

The Bush brothers won't be the only political celebrities working the Tampa Bay area on Friday. Former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno, the leading Democrat running for governor, plans to spend Friday campaigning in Tampa.

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