President Bush was the top draw at a fundraising event held Monday at a private residence in Memphis for Sen. Lamar Alexander’s (R) re-election campaign.

While no Democratic candidate has officially filed to run against Alexander next year, attorney Mike McWherter (D), the son of former Gov. Ned McWherter (D), has formed an exploratory committee.

Alexander raised $675,000 in the third quarter of 2007 and had almost $1.5 million in cash on hand at the end of September.

— John McArdle