COLUMBIA, S.C. - First lady Laura Bush is scheduled to visit South Carolina on Friday to speak at a fund-raiser for Republican U.S. Senate hopeful Jim DeMint.

It will cost $1,000 a person to hear Bush speak during a luncheon in the capital city, according to the invitation.

The first lady also will attend Bush-Cheney '04 rallies in West Virginia and Pennsylvania during her campaign swing on Friday, the campaign announced.

This will be the second visitor from the White House to campaign for DeMint, a three-term congressman. Vice President Dick Cheney spoke at a July fund-raiser in Myrtle Beach.

Cheney also helped raise money for Republicans during an August fund-raiser in Spartanburg.

The race to replace retiring Democratic U.S. Sen. Ernest "Fritz" Hollings is considered key to both parties. Republicans want the seat to boost their majority in the Senate, while Democrats want to keep it.

DeMint faces Democrat Inez Tenenbaum, the state education superintendent, in November.