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RICHMOND -- President Bush's lackluster approval ratings may not help U.S. Sen. George Allen's run for re-election. But Allen gladly will lean on Bush's fundraising prowess to fatten a campaign war chest that already dwarfs that of his Democratic challenger.

Allen's campaign confirmed Tuesday that Bush will headline an Aug. 23 fundraiser for Allen at the Northern Virginia home of Ed Gillespie, the treasurer of Allen's political action committee and a former chairman of the Republican National Committee. The private event will be Bush's first appearance this year for Allen, who is battling Democratic nominee James Webb.

It comes at a time when Allen's popularity in the state far surpasses the president's.

In a late-July survey of Virginia voters by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research, 43 percent rated Bush's job performance as "excellent" or "good" and 41 percent rated it as "poor."

Allen had an approval rating of 58 percent, with just 13 percent rating his performance as "poor."

While campaigning Tuesday, Allen deflected questions about whether Bush could be a drag on his re-election run.

"The president's always welcome in Virginia," Allen said. "He's going to be very helpful raising money at this event, that's for sure."

Webb, a former Navy secretary, has tried to cast Allen as a virtual rubber stamp for the president. His campaign welcomed news of Bush's visit.

"Allen should go and campaign with him statewide," said Webb spokeswoman Kristian Denny Todd. "We'd like to see him go out and about with George Bush and shake some hands."

Allen had a 16-point lead over Webb in the Mason-Dixon poll and held an enormous fundraising advantage through the end of June. Allen had a cash balance of $6.6 million to Webb's $424,000.

Webb was headed to California on Tuesday to raise funds, his campaign said. Allen was in the Richmond area on the second day of a "listening tour" that will take him to all corners of the state by month's end. Allen, traveling in a 35-foot recreational vehicle, will visit Southwest Virginia communities from Thursday through Saturday.

Bush is not the only nationally known Republican lending support to Allen's campaign.

Sen. John McCain of Arizona will campaign with Allen next week in Norfolk, and former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani will appear for a fundraising event at the end of the month. Like Allen, both are considered potential 2008 presidential candidates.