For 2002, the buck starts here: Political advertising could reach $750 million this year as...

President George W Bush paid a visit to the Big Apple last week, partially to soothe a city still hurting from Sept. 11 but also to help raise money for George Paraki and his campaign to return to the New York governor's mansion this fall.

At two fundraisers--a $ 15,000-a-bead affair at the home of Mayor Michael Bloomberg and a $1,500-per-person dinner at the Sheraton New York--Pataki raised $2.6 million and increased his campaign account to $20 million.

So it goes. In state after state, incumbents and challengers alike are busy raising as much money as they