Perino latest White House official to help Schaffer

Dana Perino: Photo by Getty ImagesWhite House press secretary Dana Perino will appear at a fundraiser for GOP U.S. Senate candidate Bob Schaffer tonight in Cherry Hills Village, according to the Rocky Mountain News.

Perino, who grew up in Colorado, will attend a reception at the home of Meg and Jamie Duke and a 7 p.m. dinner at the Cherry Hills Country Club, the paper stated.

Perino is the third Bush administration official in the last four months to make an appearance at a Schaffer fundraiser. Vice President Dick Cheney appeared at a Schaffer fundraiser in Grand Junction last month, while Bush himself attended a fundraiser in Cherry Hills Village in January.

Democrats immediately jumped on the news, attacking both Schaffer and the Bush administration.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee sent out a mocking e-mail featuring a picture of President Bush and Jack Abramoff showing what Schaffer and Bush "have in common."

"To the best of our knowledge, Bush never went parasailing on a trip arranged by Abramoff like Schaffer did, but, then again, he still has nine months left in office…," the e-mail stated.

Schaffer manager Dick Wadhams did not immediately return a phone call seeking a response late Thursday afternoon. But in the past, Wadhams has told the Rocky that Schaffer "did not know, does not know Jack Abramoff."

The Rocky quoted Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Mark Udall spokesperson Taylor West as saying, "Bob Schaffer's agenda is all about continuing the policies of the Bush administration that have failed our families, our national security, and our economy.

"It's no wonder that President Bush, Dick Cheney, and now even their employees are doing everything they can to prop up his candidacy," she said to the paper.

Wadhams responded to the Rocky that the Udall campaign "should be ashamed of themselves for attacking a Colorado woman who has distinguished herself as a spokeswoman for the president of the United States.

"I think she does an excellent job," Wadhams said to the paper.