WASHINGTON - Republican governors and gubernatorial hopefuls briefly put aside worries that Bush administration stumbles could hamper their chances with voters this fall to address a more immediate concern: the need for cash to fund their races.

A swank crowd of Republican governors and supporters from corporate America and elsewhere gave President Bush a rock-star welcome as he headlined a Monday night reception that added $9.6 million to GOP campaign coffers for fall gubernatorial races.

"I thank you for your steadfast support," Bush told the audience gathered in the stately National Building Museum.

The president may have overstated things just a bit.

As the winter meeting of the National Governors Association heads into its last day Tuesday, Republican governors displayed their unease with the Bush's administration's slow performance on Hurricane Katrina, nationwide confusion over a new prescription drugs benefit, a ports security debacle and other matters. The GOP chief executives reluctantly acknowledged that a series of gaffes threatens to undermine public confidence in Bush - and thus them.

"You've got solid conservatives coming up speaking like they haven't before. It's likely that something's going on at the grass roots," said Republican Mark Sanford of South Carolina. "Whether it's temporary or not remains to be seen."

There are three dozen contests for governor this fall, and Democrats are seen as well-positioned to gain states. Republicans need to defend 22 of the 36 executive mansions up for grabs, compared with just 14 held by Democrats.

Republican skittishness about the elections is increased by the president's low approval ratings. Public approval of Bush's handling of the war on terror dipped from 52 percent in January to 43 percent in a CBS News poll released Monday that indicated his overall support was slipping as well.

Democrats see opportunity, and even those in conservative states say the administration's missteps will have a ripple effect politically at home. "I do think there's a considerable degree of skepticism about what's been happening at the federal level," said Democrat Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas. "If you didn't pick it up on Katrina, you did when you tried to help your parents" get prescription drugs through the new Medicare program.

Republican Dirk Kempthorne of Idaho is leading a united front of governors pushing back against the administration on potential reductions to National Guard forces. "There has been too much we have learned outside the loop. It's time we be inside the loop," Kempthorne said.

Bush and Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld offered private assurances about administration budget plans that would reduce planned force levels for the Guard, the state-controlled citizen soldier force that is the backbone of state emergency and homeland security response but has been used heavily in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Bush's 2007 budget submission would support a Guard of about 333,000 citizen soldiers - the current level - rather than the 350,000 authorized by Congress. It also proposes to pay for 188,000 Army Reserve troops rather than the 205,000 authorized by Congress.

In closed-door meetings, Bush, Rumsfeld and Gen. Peter Pace, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, promised governors that the administration would find the money to cover the higher number of troops if that many are recruited, several governors said.

"There's no sense of hugs, handshakes and cut the cake," said Republican Mike Huckabee of Arkansas. "At least now, we're talking."

Bush did not mention the sticky issue Monday night. But he did confront something many Republican governors see as the biggest potential drag on their fortunes in November - the war in Iraq. "The biggest cumulative effect weighing on everybody is the war," said Republican Don Carcieri of Rhode Island

"I know our governors are worried about the troop levels in Iraq," Bush said. "Here's my response: I will determine the troop levels in Iraq, one necessary to achieve victory, based upon the recommendations of our commanders, not based upon politics in Washington, D.C."

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AP National Writer Robert Tanner contributed to this story.

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National Governors Association: http://www.nga.org/