By Patrick Crowley
Enquirer staff writer

COVINGTON - Northern Kentucky's major political parties are trying to make the most of visits by the presidential candidates.

Boone County Republican Geoff Davis, who is running against Democrat Nick Clooney in the 4th Congressional District race, is scheduled to greet President Bush Monday at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.

Democrats, meanwhile, are trying to arrange for John Kerry to formally dedicate a 4th District Regional Headquarters the party is opening at Third and Greenup streets in Covington.

Bush will address a Veterans of Foreign Wars convention in Cincinnati. Davis has been invited to be part of the entourage that will greet Bush as he leaves Air Force One.

Though any interaction Davis has with the president is likely to be brief, the meeting will be a boost for Davis' campaign. Bush is popular in Northern Kentucky and carried the 4th District over Al Gore in 2000.

Bush was also somewhat close to U.S. Rep. Ken Lucas, a Boone County Democrat who is not running for re-election. Lucas supported many of the president's policies in Washington and once flew on Air Force II with Vice President Dick Cheney.

Davis lost the 2002 race to Lucas by 3 percentage points. Davis was not available Saturday.

Bush has never campaigned in the 4th District for Davis, though Cheney attended a campaign fund-raiser for Davis earlier this summer.

Kerry is also scheduled to be in Cincinnati to address the VFW convention, on Wednesday. But he is due back Aug. 23 to help dedicate the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.

Covington lawyer Bob Sanders, who is active in national Democratic politics, is working with other Northern Kentucky Democrats to arrange a visit from Kerry during his Aug. 23 trip.

Sanders has had talks about the appearance with the Kerry campaign.

"We've secured some office space in Covington that will serve as a Northern Kentucky headquarters for Democratic candidates, and we would love to have John Kerry cut the ribbon when he is town August 23," said Sanders.

The building is owned by lawyer Lanny Holbrook, a Fort Mitchell Democrat involved with the national Democratic party.

Sanders is working on the effort with other Democrats, including Steve Hoffman of the Kenton County Democratic Club.

Sanders, an original supporter of Kerry running-mate John Edwards for president, said the headquarters will also serve the party's other top candidates, including Clooney, U.S. Senate candidate Dr. Daniel Mongiardo and state senate candidate Kathy Groob.

Mongiardo, a state senator from Hazard, is challenging U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning, a Southgate Republican. Groob, a member of Fort Mitchell city council, is taking on state Sen. Jack Westwood, R-Crescent Springs, in Kenton County's 23rd Senate District.

E-mail pcrowley@enquirer.com