Shreveport Times.com

By Mike Hasten

July 26, 2008

BATON ROUGE — First lady Laura Bush is scheduled to attend a fundraiser in Lafayette next month to boost the campaign of Republican U.S. Senate candidate John Kennedy.

Lafayette businessman William P. Mills confirmed Friday he and his wife, Sandra, will host the event Aug. 14 at their Robley Drive home.

Mills was traveling Friday and unavailable for comment, but his assistant at MPW Properties, Debbie Brushaber, said in an e-mail message, “Mr. Mills asked that I convey that he is, in fact, hosting this event at his home.”

Kyle Plotkin, Kennedy campaign spokesman, said the planned event contrasts with a fundraiser incumbent U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-New Orleans, has scheduled next week with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

“While Mary Landrieu travels to Manhattan to fill her campaign coffers with money from liberals like Mike Bloomberg who don’t represent conservative values, John Kennedy is proud and honored to have the support of first lady Laura Bush for our campaign for change in Louisiana.”

The Washington publication Roll Call notes “New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg (I), a renowned party switcher, is opting for the Democrat, not the party switcher, in the Bayou State Senate race.”

Kennedy ran for the Senate two years ago as a Democrat, critical of the Republican Party, but has since joined the GOP.

The invitations say they were “paid for and authorized by the Kennedy Majority Committee, a joint fundraising committee established on behalf of the John Kennedy for U.S. Senate Inc. and the National Republican Senatorial Committee.”

They ask for a $1,000-per-couple contribution to the Kennedy campaign to attend a reception; $2,500 for a VIP/photo reception.

Campaign contributions are not tax deductible as charitable donations.