President Bush is ending his day today by headlining a fundraiser for Sen. Jeff Sessions, Alabama Republican, who has been one of the staunchest opponents of the president's immigration reform bill.

Mr. Bush made much-mentioned remarks about the fundraiser last week, at a lunch with Senate Republicans. Many who attended the meeting said his joke about still being willing to raise money for Mr. Sessions cut through the tension.

Mr. Sessions is traveling with the president today in Alabama, and during a tour of a nuclear power plant in Athens, Ala., Mr. Sessions was asked if the president has changed his mind on the immigration issue.

"Well, I will say that he's mentioned it," Mr. Sessions said. "But he isn't doing any real selling."

-- Jon Ward, White House correspondent, The Washington Times