<p>Making his second swing through Georgia in as many days, President Bush planned a stop in middle Georgia on Tuesday to rally Republicans as the GOP struggles to keep control of Congress in next week's elections.</p><p>The campaign stop at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter is in support of Mac Collins, a former congressman who is challenging incumbent Democrat Jim Marshall in Georgia's 8th Congressional District.</p><p>The middle Georgia district was redrawn along with the state's entire congressional map last year after Republicans took control of the Georgia Legislature. The district voted 60 percent for Bush in the 2004 election.</p><p>Republicans hope unseating Marshall, a former Macon mayor seeking his third term in Congress, will offset Republican losses predicted throughout the country. Democrats must gain 15 seats in the 435-member House to take control.</p><p>Two years ago, after serving six-terms, Collins left the House to make a failed bid for U.S. Senate.</p><p>With Bush's popularity flagging over issues including the war in Iraq, some national Republicans have looked to distance themselves from the president and his policies.</p><p>But recently Bush has been frequent flier to Georgia, where two GOP congressional hopefuls have welcomed his support.</p><p>Tuesday's visit will be the president's fourth in just over a month. He appeared once before at a fundraiser for Collins and twice on behalf of former congressman Max Burns, who's taking on incumbent John Barrow in east Georgia.</p><p>Marshall is a former Army Ranger who won commendations, including two Bronze Stars, in Vietnam. He has looked to fend off Collins' challenge by touting his own conservative credentials.</p><p>Marshall has supported the war in Iraq and taken a tough stance on illegal immigration.</p><p>Marshall spokesman Doug Moore said the president's visit will have a limited impact in the race.</p><p>"Voters are going to make up their minds about who they think is the best candidate to represent them," he said. "I think that is independent of who is stumping for whom."</p><p>He also questioned funding for the visit. A spokeswoman for the Georgia Republican Party said the party is paying for the event. According to Moore, neither the Georgia GOP nor the Collins campaign paid anything for the president's travel, extra security and other expenses beyond the cost of the event itself.</p><p>"They're paying less than one-tenth of what it would cost to bring the president down here," he said. "The other nine-tenths are borne by the taxpayers."</p><p>He also alleged that the event constitutes an illegal contribution from the state party to Collins' campaign.</p><p>Clelia Davis, spokeswoman for the Georgia GOP, said the party is paying because it's a rally for all Georgia Republicans, not just Collins. Gov. Sonny Perdue, who faces re-election on Tuesday, and Republican candidates for several other seats were scheduled to attend.</p><p>___</p><p>On The Net</p><p>HASH(0x1cdc3f8)</p><p>HASH(0x1cde6d4)</p>
