Mercer Reynolds was an Ohio finance chairman for George W. Bush’s 2000 presidential and campaign, raising over $600,000 and was named to co-chair Bush’s inaugural committee.

From August 2001 to September 2003, Reynolds served as U.S. ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein. As the national finance chair of U.S. President George W. Bush’s 2004 re-election campaign, Reynolds helped raise over $200 million for the successful effort and is sometimes credited with helping to deliver Ohio’s key electoral votes to the President.

Reynolds was a frequent guest of President Bush at the White House and at Camp David, and was a leading contender for the post of Commerce Secretary upon the 2004 resignation of Don Evans.