Myers' campaign manager estimated between 200 and 300 people attended the fundraiser at the sprawling estate of Juan and Marta Gutierrez, Cuban exiles who became successful businesspeople and sought-after political donors.
Chris Russell, Myers' campaign manager, said Bush spoke about the economic crisis gripping Wall Street, "how serious it was and the need to fix it."
Regarding the two GOP hopefuls, Russell said the president advised them to follow their instincts.
"He said, `Go down to Washington and vote your conscience and do the right thing,"' Russell said. "He said to follow their heart and represent their constituents and they'll do fine."
Democrats instantly pounced on the visit to blame Bush for the Wall Street meltdown and link the GOP hopefuls to the president.
"If Mayor Myers had any sense of the fear and feeling of utter helplessness gripping Americans being punished by this economic meltdown, he would not be standing arm in arm this afternoon with the very symbol of that failure," said state Sen. John Adler, who is running against Myers for the seat being vacated by Republican Jim Saxton in the 3rd District. "Not since Herbert Hoover have we had a president whose blind spot on the economy had such a devastating impact on all Americans."
"What a perverse irony," said state Democratic Chairman Joseph Cryan. "We are in the midst of an economic crisis of historic proportion and George Bush comes to New Jersey to raise campaign money for Republicans who support his economic policies. No wonder they want to keep the event private."
John Hreno was one of about 30 protesters who lined a highway near the fundraiser.
"The reason I'm able to be out here is that I'm out of work because of Bush and his policies," he said.
The 53-year-old Hillsborough man was among 4,000 Merrill Lynch workers who lost their jobs this year due to the Wall Street crisis.
"After 17 years, I'm out of work because (Merrill Lynch) lost $40 billion on subprime mortgages," he said. "Bush and McCain orchestrated this disaster and made it fall like a house of cards. Now you, me and everyone else is paying for it out of our own pockets."
The protesters didn't get a chance to see the president, who was taken to the event by an alternate route.
Donors paid between $1,000 and $5,000 to attend the event. It was not immediately clear how much was raised, Russell said.
Lance faces Democratic Assemblywoman Linda Stender from Middlesex County for the 7th District seat being vacated by Republican Mike Ferguson.
Myers' campaign played down any connection to Bush, whose approval rating in New Jersey has sunk below 30 percent this year. A Fairleigh Dickinson-Public Mind poll earlier this month found just 22 percent of those surveyed approve of the way Bush is doing his job.
Campaign manager Russell said Myers "is a job-creating businessman, a decorated combat veteran and a tax-cutting local mayor who will bring real change to Washington. He'll be an independent voice that can't be bought or bossed by anyone - let alone a president who will be out of office by the time Chris is sworn into Congress next January."
The president had some support in the crowd that gathered along the highway before his visit. Ben McCormack, 70, a retired business owner from Point Pleasant, drove to the neighborhood in the hope of seeing the president, whom he supports.
"I like what he stands for," McCormack said. "I don't like people that are for abortion and gay marriage."
Gutierrez was active in professional associations that sought public funding for infrastructure projects. He has given generously to Republicans but also has helped Democratic Cuban-American politicians from New Jersey, including U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez and Rep. Albio Sires.
