Keep in mind Bush’s 86 was for his entire first term, Obama will continue adding to his 132 right up until the general election.
Via ABC News:
President Obama demonstrated the power of his office this week, shifting seamlessly in a span of just over 30 hours from commander-in-chief in a dangerous war zone to campaigner-in-chief on the trail in D.C.
Fresh back from Afghanistan, Obama attended two private, $40,000-a-plate fundraisers Wednesday at the exclusive W Hotel, raising at least $2 million for the 2012 campaign, Democratic officials said.
The big money events, coming ahead of Obama’s first public campaign rallies on Saturday, are the latest reminder of how the president is padding his war chest at an unprecedented rate.
Obama has headlined 132 re-election fundraisers for his campaign and the Democratic Party since early last year, according to tracking by ABC News and U.S. Naval Academy political scientist Brendan Doherty.
President George W. Bush attended 86 fundraisers for his re-election campaign, the Republican Party or both groups during his first term. Presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush appeared at a total of 70 and 24, respectively.
And as Obama travels the country — or across the street, as was the case last night — taxpayers foot most of the bill, experts say.
“The taxpayer always pays for all of the advance work that goes into a trip, the logistics that accompany the president, the transport of the motorcade and Marine One, the security, the communications equipment, all of the mobile White House that accompanies the president,” said Doherty.