Editing Laura Bush (section)

===Campaigning===
[[File:Laura Bush-Bill Clinton.jpg|thumb|left|Bush appearing alongside [[Bill Clinton]] in New York, September 20, 2006]]
Bush campaigned for Republicans around the country in 2002 for that year's midterm elections, attending and hosting fundraisers as well as giving speeches.

Opponents deemed this as the Bush administration "working against women's rights issues and using women to do their dirty work" and partly a test for Bush on how well she could campaign for her husband in the impending two years when he sought re-election.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.newsweek.com/west-wing-story-laura-bush-and-gender-card-146157|title=West Wing Story: Laura Bush and the Gender Card|first=Martha|last=Brant|magazine=Newsweek|date=October 30, 2002|access-date=December 21, 2015|archive-date=December 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222173419/http://www.newsweek.com/west-wing-story-laura-bush-and-gender-card-146157|url-status=live}}</ref>

During the 2004 election cycle, Bush made joint appearances with her husband on the campaign trail,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2004/08/20040814-2.html|via=[[NARA|National Archives]]|work=[[whitehouse.gov]]|title=President and Mrs. Bush's Remarks at Sioux City, Iowa Rally|access-date=November 15, 2017|archive-date=November 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115143545/https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2004/08/20040814-2.html|url-status=live}}</ref> including in battleground states such as Florida.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2004/08/20040827-15.html|via=[[NARA|National Archives]]|work=[[whitehouse.gov]]|title=Remarks by the President and the First Lady at Miami, Florida Rally|access-date=November 15, 2017|archive-date=November 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115143404/https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2004/08/20040827-15.html|url-status=live}}</ref> She advocated for his re-election in a speech at the [[2004 Republican National Convention]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/08/31/gop.laurabush/index.html|title=Laura Bush urges nation to trust president|date=September 1, 2004|publisher=CNN|access-date=November 15, 2017|archive-date=November 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161110060147/http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/08/31/gop.laurabush/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and was credited with having raised $15 million for her husband's campaign as well as the Republican Party while still succeeding in keeping a separate schedule that allowed for her to tend to the traditional duties she had as First Lady.<ref name=Freerepublic>{{cite news|url=http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1615918/posts|title=Laura Bush Hits the Campaign Trail|date=April 16, 2006|first=Anssie|last=Dasher|publisher=Free Republic|access-date=December 21, 2015|archive-date=December 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222172049/http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1615918/posts|url-status=live}}</ref> In a July 2004 interview, [[Teresa Heinz]], wife of Democratic presidential nominee [[John Kerry]], said, "Well, you know, I don't know Laura Bush. But she seems to be calm, and she has a sparkle in her eye, which is good. But I don't know that she's ever had a real job—I mean, since she's been grown up."<ref>{{cite news|title=The real running mates|work=USA Today|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/2004-10-19-teresa_x.htm|date=October 20, 2004|access-date=July 29, 2006|archive-date=June 26, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060626050832/http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/2004-10-19-teresa_x.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Heinz later apologized for the remark, stating that she had forgotten that Laura Bush was a teacher and librarian prior to her marriage.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/10/20/theresa.apologizes.laura |title=Heinz Kerry apologizes for remark |publisher=CNN |date=October 21, 2004 |access-date=July 29, 2006 |archive-date=March 25, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070325154618/http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/10/20/theresa.apologizes.laura/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A49754-2004Oct20.html|title=A 'Real Job'? It Works for Laura Bush|first=Hanna|last=Rosin|newspaper=Washington Post|date=October 20, 2004|access-date=January 28, 2018|archive-date=November 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115143936/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A49754-2004Oct20.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Bush stated that she forgave her while insisting her apology was unnecessary, citing her understanding of the "trick questions" asked by the media.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/laura-bush-its-ok-teresa/|title=Laura Bush: It's OK, Teresa|first=Joel|last=Roberts|work=CBS News|access-date=November 15, 2017|archive-date=November 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115201447/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/laura-bush-its-ok-teresa/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/10/21/laura.teresa/ |title=Laura Bush brushes aside Heinz Kerry's remarks |publisher=CNN |date=October 21, 2004 |access-date=November 15, 2017 |archive-date=May 29, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160529000831/http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/10/21/laura.teresa/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Bush was a participant in the 2006 midterm elections,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/31/AR2006103101415_2.html|title=Campaigner in Chief Has Limited Reach|date=November 1, 2006|newspaper=Washington Post|first=Dan|last=Balz|access-date=September 2, 2017|archive-date=March 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329104116/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/31/AR2006103101415_2.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/30/AR2006103000530.html|title=Bush Says 'America Loses' Under Democrats|first=Michael|last=Abramowitz|newspaper=Washington Post|date=October 31, 2006|access-date=September 2, 2017|archive-date=July 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170714235809/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/30/AR2006103000530.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna14588025|title=Taxpayers pay for Bush's campaign travel|work=NBC News|date=August 30, 2006|access-date=February 6, 2016|archive-date=February 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160206143753/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/14588025/ns/politics/t/taxpayers-pay-bushs-campaign-travel/|url-status=live}}</ref> beginning her campaigning in April. Though her poll numbers had decreased from an 80% approval rating, they still superseded that of President Bush, whose approval rating was only praised by a third of Americans.<ref name=Freerepublic /> Ed Henry of [[CNN]] noted Bush's popularity, writing, "The first lady is treated like a rock star on the campaign trail&nbsp;– with local Republicans lining up for photographs and autographs&nbsp;– as she criss-crosses the country to help candidates."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/10/26/laura.bush/index.html|title=Laura Bush: My husband never misled about Iraq|date=October 26, 2006|publisher=CNN|first=Ed|last=Henry|access-date=February 6, 2016|archive-date=February 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204005543/http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/10/26/laura.bush/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Bush relied on a strategy of praising the Republican candidate for their achievements and attending events alongside them.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.philly.com/2006-10-05/news/25416951_1_weldon-campaign-joe-sestak-republican-stronghold|title=Laura Bush bolsters Weldon campaign The first lady stumped for the congressman whose seat in a GOP stronghold is vulnerable.|publisher=Philly.com|first=Todd|last=Mason|date=October 5, 2006|access-date=February 6, 2016|archive-date=February 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160206133808/http://articles.philly.com/2006-10-05/news/25416951_1_weldon-campaign-joe-sestak-republican-stronghold|url-status=dead}}</ref> In September 2008, Bush spoke during the first night of the [[2008 Republican National Convention]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/president-laura-bush-lieberman-behind-mccain-palin-article-1.319890|title=President, Laura Bush, Lieberman all get behind McCain & Palin|date=September 3, 2008|newspaper=New York Daily News|access-date=March 2, 2016|archive-date=March 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305174917/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/president-laura-bush-lieberman-behind-mccain-palin-article-1.319890|url-status=live}}</ref> her joint appearance with [[Cindy McCain]] geared toward raising hurricane relief funds for victims of [[Hurricane Gustav]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://people.com/politics/laura-bush-and-cindy-mccain-raise-money-for-gustav-victims/|title=Laura Bush and Cindy McCain Raise Money for Gustav Victims|first=Sandra Sobieraj|last=Westfall|magazine=People|date=September 2, 2008|access-date=November 8, 2017|archive-date=November 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109081120/http://people.com/politics/laura-bush-and-cindy-mccain-raise-money-for-gustav-victims/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/news/13671-laura-bush-cindy-mccain-focus-on-gustav/|title=Laura Bush, Cindy McCain focus on Gustav|date=September 1, 2008|newspaper=The Hill|access-date=November 8, 2017|archive-date=November 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109023708/http://thehill.com/homenews/news/16112-laura-bush-cindy-mccain-focus-on-gustav|url-status=live}}</ref>