As the Gulf oil spill continues to rage, President Obama jetted to California yesterday to serve up political red meat during a series of fundraisers for struggling Democrat Barbara Boxer – including one event hosted at the San Francisco home the heirs to the Getty oil fortune. ABC reports:

President Obama, in full campaign mode in San Francisco, told partisan anecdotes and raked in $1.7 million for Senate democrats as his party prepares for midterm election battles. California Sen. Barbara Boxer, for whom the events were organized, got $600,000 of that take.

The Sacramento Bee reports that the NRSC blasted the President for his misplaced priorities:

The National Republican Senatorial Committee today blasted President Barack Obama for raising cash for Sen. Barbara Boxer in California before traveling to monitor progress to contain oil leaking from a well in the Gulf of Mexico… Obama will head to Louisiana from his home in Chicago on Friday. But first he will hobnob with donors contributing up to $17,500 at tonight’s San Francisco fundraisers for Boxer and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. The events include a reception at the Fairmont Hotel and a dinner at the home of philanthropists Ann and Gordon Getty… NRSC spokeswoman Amber Marchand said in a statement that putting off the Gulf trip until later in the week “comes at a special cost for residents of the Gulf Coast region who want the president’s full attention on this enormous problem.” “President Obama and Barbara Boxer’s hypocrisy is astonishing. In the wake of this ongoing national crisis, why didn’t the Democrats reschedule his fancy fundraiser with the billionaire oil heirs and allow the President to direct his full attention toward the massive disaster that is plaguing the Gulf Coast?” Marchand added.

Reuters reports also noted the GOP’s criticisms:

Obama drew fire from Republicans for leaving Washington during the Gulf of Mexico oil spill crisis. The president is traveling to the Louisiana Gulf on Friday. National Republican Senatorial Committee spokeswoman Amber Marchand said: “While the president makes time to fly across the country to rake in campaign cash for struggling Democrats like Barbara Boxer, today’s trip comes at a special cost for residents of the Gulf Coast region who want the president’s full attention on this enormous problem.”