During his first trip to this city in more than a year, Vice President Dick Cheney attended a Republican fundraiser after getting briefed on efforts to protect New Orleans from future floods.

(AP Photo/David Grunfeld, Pool)

Vice President Dick Cheney is welcomed to New Orleans by New Orleans Police officers Gary Flot, left, and Jeff Johnson on the tarmac of Louis Armstrong International Airport on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2006. Cheney came to visit the port, speak with levee officials and also meet privately with fellow Republicans.

Cheney's stopover in New Orleans was also criticized by Democrats, who released a news release questioning the vice president's decision to not spend time in areas flooded by Katrina.

Cheney was shuttled into New Orleans in a motorcade and met privately with Donald Powell, the administration's recovery czar for the battered Gulf Coast, U.S. Sen. David Vitter, R-Metairie, and Brig. Gen. Robert Crear, commander of the Mississippi Valley division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Cheney briefly spoke to reporters after the closed-door meeting. He took no questions.

The vice president acknowledged that there are still some unfilled gaps in flood protection system, but he said overall he was "tremendously impressed."

"We've got a lot of work to do yet, but it looks like the levees are back to pre-Katrina levels, and in some cases, better than that," Cheney said. "Clearly, that's one of the most important parts of recovery process, which is altogether fitting given that this was the worst natural disaster in American history."

In the late afternoon, Cheney headlined a Republican National Committee fundraiser at the World Trade Center. The RNC said the event was expected to raise $180,000 in campaign cash.

The Democratic National Committee issued a news release calling Cheney's meeting with officials window-dressing for the fundraising junket.

Powell, speaking on Cheney's behalf, called that charge "unfortunate."

"I think he spent his time very wisely" focusing on flood control and economic issues," he said.

Earlier Thursday, Cheney visited Topeka, Kan., to help raise money and boost Rep. Jim Ryun's re-election campaign.

Cheney touched on themes he has used in speeches in other states, suggesting that a Democratic-controlled Congress would allow tax cuts championed by President Bush to lapse and would adopt a "strategy of resignation and defeatism" abroad.

Democrats argued that Cheney's visit shows Republicans are worried about Ryun, who's seeking a sixth term representing Kansas' 2nd District, losing to Democratic challenger Nancy Boyda.

Ryun's campaign said the event, held in the ballroom of Topeka's biggest conference center, raised $209,000, with nearly 300 contributors paying $100 each to attend the speech and an additional $1,000 to have their pictures taken with Cheney. They munched on snacks and drank iced tea, some arriving two hours early.

"I don't think there's any part of America that's better represented in Washington than the 2nd District of Kansas," Cheney said.

The vice president also mentioned GOP challenger Chuck Ahner in the 3rd District and Republican gubernatorial candidate Jim Barnett.

Cheney's visit comes as his fellow Republicans are worried about holding onto its House majority. Earlier this month, Cheney made fundraising appearances in Florida and Wyoming to help GOP incumbents in those states.

Earlier this year, Ryun seemed likely to win re-election without much trouble in the 2nd District. But Boyda has said her internal polling shows the race is close.

(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)