First Lady Laura Bush visited a Sharon home Wednesday for a fundraiser for U.S. Rep. Phil English, the embattled 3rd District Republican congressman.

He called the visit a “great privilege” and said the First Lady’s presence was a sign of the importance of his race, an increasingly competitive battle against challenging Democrat Kathy Dahlkemper.

English, who is campaigning as a moderate with Bush’s administration held at arm’s length, said the visit was a chance to show Mrs. Bush “the kind of strong support we have in this region for an independent voice representing northwest Pennsylvania in the Congress.”

The First Lady’s visit took place at the home of Joy Cone chief Joe George in Sharon, said a reservation form sent to The Herald.

The fundraiser’s cost according to the form was $500 per person or $2,300 for a VIP reception. The media was not permitted at the event, said English campaign spokeswoman Meghan Corbin.

About four protesters from the Democrat Women of Mercer County showed up, said their organizer Missa Eaton. She said demonstrators waved signs like “Bush = English” in an attempt to tie English with the unpopular administration.

“Phil English has been trying to distance himself from the Bush administration. It didn’t make sense to me that he would have a fundraiser with Laura Bush,” she said.

In a release, English campaign manager Adam Beebe said Mrs. Dahlkemper had a fundraiser with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who he called her “liberal, San Francisco friend.”