President Bush is heading to Wichita next week. He plans to attend a fundraiser for Pat Roberts, who continues to show his loyalty to the Bush White House despite plummeting approval ratings:

And the political climate shows little sign of improving. Bush's approval rating is in the 30s. Most Americans oppose the war in Iraq and more members of his own party are expressing doubts. The president also continues to be dogged by the scandal surrounding Attorney General Alberto Gonzales over the selection of U.S. attorneys.

Jennifer Duffy, a Senate analyst for the nonpartisan "Cook Political Report," said Roberts appears to be one of the few incumbents so far who've agreed to have Bush campaign for them.

Roberts has suddenly been spotted all over the state, launching an early campaign effort to hold onto his seat. It's great to see him actually visiting the state which he supposedly represents in Congress. We wish he would have done it more often in the last ten years he's been in office...

"We don't intend to let that (seat) go unchallenged," Gates said. "The guy hasn't lived in Kansas for 50 years. I think it's starting to show."