By Jim Siegel
Enquirer Columbus Bureau

COLUMBUS - President Bush couldn't resist as Phil Derrow finished explaining how his New Albany, Ohio, company sells compressed air to its customers.

"You and I are in the same business," Bush quipped, drawing laughter from supporters packed into the Aladdin Shrine Center. "Is it hot air, by any chance?"

Bush's second trip to Ohio in five days didn't feature thousands of sign-waving supporters, blaring music or a thunderous speech.

BUSH'S TALK

• Transcript of President Bush's remarks

Instead, Bush's personal charm was on display Thursday as he stood in the center of more than 2,500 supporters, many of whom are part of his volunteer army.

Using a relaxed, folksy manner, he promised a safer America, touted examples of economic success and answered friendly questions from the audience.

"I'm traveling the country - coming to Ohio a lot, by the way," Bush told the crowd, some of whom were standing three-deep behind the rows of seats. "I think you have to ask for the vote, and that's what I'm doing here."

For Bush, this was his sixth day campaigning in Ohio since May. Democrat John Kerry also has made frequent visits, and this past Saturday, the competitors held rallies just 25 miles apart in eastern Ohio.

"If you're an ardent supporter, you want to see as much of them as you can," said Kristen Burger, 24, of Columbus at the Easton Town Center, a half-mile from where Bush was speaking.

"This is such a battleground state, it's crucial to see both of them."

Jo Ann Davidson, Bush-Cheney chairwoman for the Ohio Valley, said she had been concerned about voters getting election fatigue.

This campaign geared up in January, much earlier than usual.

"But I think now you've had the Democrat convention, and I think people are ready for this intensity in the campaign," she said.

But Ross Cline, 42, of Marietta, said he could do without the summer politicking. As his son played near a sprinkler at Easton, the chemical plant worker said he'll change the channel to avoid political ads.

"Sometimes it gets to be a little too much," he said. "I usually wait until later in the year to pay attention, when the election gets a little closer."

Speaking for 90 minutes Thursday, with occasional short breaks as members of the crowd told uplifting stories or asked questions, Bush touched on a wide variety of issues, including the economy.

Ohio's 5.8 percent unemployment rate in June remained above the national rate of 5.6 percent. Bush said of Ohio's figure, it's "good, but we can do better."

"I'll tell you how you can do better. Don't raise taxes on the American people, for starters," he said, referring to Kerry's pledge to end Bush's tax breaks on those earning more than $200,000.

One of the reasons the economy is getting stronger is tax relief, Bush said.

But one reason Ohio remains such a battleground state is its sluggish economic climate, highlighted by a loss of tens of thousands of manufacturing jobs since 2001.

Bush's visit to Columbus came one day after the local newspaper featured a prominent photo of four sad workers hugging outside a television-glass-maker which announced it was shutting down and putting 382 people out of work.

Bush touted government job training initiatives, using Jerry Holbrook Hurley of Columbus Grove as an example. She was laid off from a manufacturing company after 26 years, and used government assistance to go back to school with the goal of becoming an adult-education teacher.

"Some people are nervous. Of course, they're nervous," Bush said. "But there are jobs out there and the role of government is to help people train for the jobs which exist."

Bush also defended his war record, saying the world is safer with Saddam Hussein in jail and brushing aside the suggestion that his efforts have created more enemies of America.

"These were people plotting prior to us taking action around the world," he said. "These are people willing to exploit fear in the free world.

"The United States of America will stand strong and resolute in the face of this new challenge," he said.

From Columbus, Bush headed to a campaign rally in Saginaw, Mich.

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E-mail jsiegel@enquirer.com