HOUSTON -- Having $261,000 in the bank may sound like a lot of money. However, in the world of political fundraising, Republican Pete Olson's coffers are a drop in the bucket compared to Democrat Nick Lampson, who has more than $1.6 million.

Olson is hoping a high profile guest for a fundraiser Friday will help him close the gap, if not surge ahead. Especially, when that guest is the President of the United States.

“We're thrilled to have him,” Olson said not long before President Bush landed at Ellington Field and traveled by motorcade to a fundraising event in River Oaks.

“I've come back to help Pete Olson win the congressional seat,” Bush said upon arriving at Ellington.

It is not just any congressional seat either. Olson is hoping to remove Lampson from the 22nd Congressional District, the seat once considered the most powerful in Texas.

A seat that once belonged to former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, but vacated when he was indicted on campaign finance charges. That allowed Lampson to easily win a seat thought to be a Republican stronghold.

Ironically, DeLay led the effort to have the district drawn up in such a way to give Republicans the advantage. Now it is the GOP having to fight to regain the seat.

Olson had to fend off nine challengers and win a runoff just to be the GOP nominee. That meant he had to spend a lot of money on the primary while Lampson has been able to focus on the general election.

That has given Lampson a distinctive advantage over his Republican challenger.

“I'm inclined to think that he's in a preferred race. Mr. Olson hasn't raised the money, he doesn't have name ID and the short of it is, that time is running out for him,” said 11 News political expert Bob Stein.

Lampson knows he has the advantage as well.

“I have a 5 to 1 advantage, and that's significant, but don't focus on that. Focus on issues (and the) willingness I have made to be available to people,” said Lampson.

Olson may behind in money, but he sees his own advantage.

“The district is still a majority conservative district and if our people turn out and vote, the advantage is mine,” he said.