WASHINGTON, D.C. ? The Bush administration announced Thursday less than a week before the midterm election that it would be giving preferential treatment to highway projects in a half-dozen states where Republicans are locked in tough races for Congress and governor.

Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta announced the special project designations, saying they were part of President Bush’s effort to speed up environmental reviews of major transportation projects.

Some Republicans caught in tight races in Vermont, Minnesota, Kentucky, New Hampshire and Texas were treating the announcement like gold.