Presidents Bush and Reagan sent representatives to the opening of the Hsi-Lai Temple, and election hopefuls may invite leading abbots to address people at campaign rallies.
西來寺落成時，現任與前任總統都派代表參加。總統或州長競選時，一些佛教團體的住持師父，也被邀請上台演講，向華裔「拉票」。