Bush to raise money for McSame.

President George W. Bush will take to the fundraising trail for John McCain for this time later this month in Utah, but the GOP nominee won't be present.

Bush will headline a $500-per-person lunch and reception for McCain on May 28th in Salt Lake City. The invitation for the fundraiser casts the event as one "with President George W. Bush in support of Senator John McCain." A McCain spokesman confirms that the candidate is not scheduled to attend.

Present, however, will be Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman and Mitt Romney and their wives.As with all McCain fundraisers now, the money will go to "McCain Victory," a setup consisting of campaign and committee entities that allows McCain to take in money at a higher clip.

While the main reception at 2 p.m. costs $500, the noon luncheon minimum is $10,000.Bush's entry into the presidential race comes as McCain has begun to take steps to distance himself from the unpopular incumbent.

McCain spent two days earlier this week in the Pacific Northwest making plain his differences with Bush on climate change and he went to New Orleans last month and lambasted the reponse to Hurricane Katrina.

UPDATE: McCain and Bush will appear together the night before in Phoenix. See post above
http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/0508/Bush_to_raise_money_for_McCain.html