(Greenville-AP) Aug. 2, 2003 - President Bush plans a campaign stop in South Carolina this fall to raise money for his 2004 re-election. The $2000-a-person Republican event will be held at the Palmetto Exposition Center in Greenville.

It's expected to bring in nearly $800,000 for Bush-Cheney 2004. On July 28th Vice President Dick Cheney made a stop in Columbia and raised about $300,000

A date and other details of the president's fall visit have not been set. Neither the White House nor the Bush-Cheney campaign would comment.

South Carolina House Speaker David Wilkins went to Washington this week to discuss the details of the fund-raiser with campaign officials. Sponsors of the Greenville event are Wilkins and his wife, Susan; Kate and Eddie Floyd, who is former chairman of the University of South Carolina board of trustees; Anne and John Rainey, who is chairman of the state Board of Economic Advisors; and former state GOP chairman Barry Wynn of Spartanburg.

The president was last in Columbia on May 9th when he gave a commencement address at the University of South Carolina's graduation. Vice President Cheney was also in the Capital City in July to attend Senator Strom Thurmond's funeral.

Bush on Saturday finished his yearly physical exam and headed to Texas for a monthlong vacation at his ranch. He was given a clean bill of health and found to be in excellent health. He had several small skin growths treated as a preventive measure.

The president has been pronounced extremely fit after his last two annual exams. Bush will be using his ranch in Crawford as a base of operations for the month of August.

posted 4:05pm by Chris Rees