GREENVILLE, S.C. - President George W. Bush plans to start his re-election fund-raising in South Carolina with a private function in the state capital with an appearance by Vice President Dick Cheney.

Spokeswoman Tracy Schmidt of the Bush-Chaney campaign said Cheney would attend the July 28th event.

An invitation to the luncheon showed it would be at the home of Gayle Averyt, chairman emeritus of the Colonial Life Insurance Co., The Greenville News reported.

Tickets will cost $2,000 a person.

State Republican Party Chairman Katon Dawson said no fund-raising goal has been set for South Carolina, "but we're trying to do all we can; we hope to raise a couple of million dollars."

Cheney was in Columbia earlier this month, leading a delegation from Washington, D.C., to the funeral of late Sen. Strom Thurmond. Cheney delivered one of the eulogies at Thurmond's service.

The invitation lists other Bush-Cheney event co-chairmen as Peg and Gayle Averyt; Kay and Eddie Floyd of Florence; Anne and John Rainey of Columbia; Emily and Warren Tompkins of Columbia; House Speaker David Wilkins and his wife, Susan, of Greenville; and Deanie and Barry Wynn of Spartanburg.

Information from: The Greenville News