TALLAHASSEE - Gov. Jeb Bush flew to New Jersey on Tuesday to raise money for Republicans who are fighting an uphill battle to win control of the state Legislature.
Bush was the featured attraction at a $2,500-a-ticket fundraiser at an arts center in Holmdel, a rally and a dinner at the home of Larry Bathgate, a lawyer and former finance chairman of the Republican National Committee.
A spokesman for the New Jersey Republican Party said the money raised at the events would be used to help candidates for the state Legislature in next month's elections.
Democrats hold a 42-37 advantage in the state assembly and the state Senate is deadlocked 20-20. New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey is a Democrat.
The Bergen Record newspaper reported recently that Democrats have spent more than $11-million this year, five times as much as Republicans, in legislative races.
Adam Green, a spokesman for New Jersey Democrats, said Bush's visit to the state would backfire because New Jersey voters associate the Bush name with the loss of jobs and with "putting giant corporations ahead of regular families."
The governor planned to visit his brother, President George W. Bush, and spend the night at the White House. Today, he will hold a brown-bag lunch with Washington reporters for Florida newspapers.
