Former President George W. Bush had every intention of sticking to his exit from politics but kept getting appeals from Republican U.S. Senate candidates for help, friends say As a result, Bush has begun a rescue mission to try to preserve the Republicans' slight Senate majority in a year in which many party figures fear presumptive nominee Donald Trump will pull them down to defeat in the Nov. 8 elections Condoleezza Rice is also raising money for Republican candidates but on Friday ruled out speculation that she might be drafted as Trump's vice presidential running mate