They say it takes money to make money, and that holds true when it comes to campaign fundraising. A big name can bring in relatively big money, but the bigger the name, the more it costs to get him or her here. Here’s a look at some of the recent visitors in Vermont’s U.S. House race:

When Martha Rainville and the Vermont Republican Party brought in first lady Laura Bush, they raised about $150,000, but they also had to pay $15,000 for Bush’s travel expenses and another $6,070 for the Inn an Essex, where the finger-foods luncheon/speech/photo opp were held. The two entities shared in the expenses and the money raised.

When Laura Bush’s mother-in-law, Barbara, came to visit, it cost $7,475 in travel expenses and $2,942 for the finger-foods luncheon/speech/photo opp at the Sheraton.

When Christie Whitman came to town this week, travel expenses were minimal because she was coming from New Hampshire, Rainville campaign manager Nathan Rice said. At two fund-raisers — a luncheon with 15 people in Stowe and a Burlington house party, the Rainville campaign raised about $5,000, campaign spokesman Brendan McKenna said. Expenses for a couple nights’ stay at the Trapp Family Lodge and the luncheon aren’t in yet.

Welch events have tended to be cheaper while also raising less money. Reps. John Murtha and Earl Blumenauer paid their own way via their own political action committees. Expenses for the Murtha speech at Lake & College in Burlington amounted to $120, Welch campaign spokesman Andrew Savage said.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. brought in about $15,000 with a fund-raising luncheon attended by about 100 people, Savage said. The campaign is paying for RFK’s airfare ($278.40) and rental car, for a total of about $400, Savage said. Renting Ira Allen Chapel for Kennedy’s speech cost $400.

— Terri Hallenbeck