    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book I)]
    [May 7, 2004]
    [Pages 807-808]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks in Lancaster, Wisconsin
    May 7, 2004

        The President. Thank you all for coming. Thank you all for coming
    out. Come on, Laura. As you can see, I'm
    traveling with the A team of the Bush family. We're really glad to be
    here in Wisconsin, and I want to thank you all for coming out to say
    hello.
        We're on a bus trip because I'm out asking for the vote. I'm here to
    tell the people of this State I'd like to be your President for 4 more
    years. And one of the best reasons why is to keep Laura as the First Lady for 4 years.
        I'm not really here to politic you too much, but I do want you to
    know that I've got a plan to win this war on terror, and I've got a plan
    to spread freedom and peace. That's what I want to do. We're going to
    have to be tough in the years coming, and we've got to be compassionate
    too. This economy of ours is getting better. I hope the people in this
    part of the State are working. I know the farm economy is strong, and
    that's good for America. It's good for this part of Wisconsin.
        I've got a plan to keep us going, so people can find work and
    realize their dreams. We got some good news today. They added--we added
    288,000 new jobs last month. That's a good sign. Part of it has to do
    with making sure you get to keep more of your own money. That stimulus
    plan is working.
        And finally, my job is to tap into the compassion of America. Let me
    tell you where the strength of the country is. The strength of the
    country is in the hearts and souls of our citizens, like the people
    living right here in Lancaster. That's the strength of this country, and
    for those of you who are--those of you who are loving your neighbor like
    you'd like to be loved yourself, I'm here to thank you for that;
    thanking you for mentoring children; thanking you for feeding the
    hungry, providing shelter for the homeless; thank you for hearing that
    universal call--that universal call to help change this country one
    heart and one soul at a time. My job is to rally the spirit of this
    great country, and that's what I'm--that's what I'm doing, traveling
    your great State.
        I'm proud you're here, Mr. Mayor. Thanks
    for coming. Come on up here, Mr. Mayor. I always like to give the mayors

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    advice. My advice is: Fill the potholes. [Laughter] Thanks for coming,
    Mayor.

    [At this point, Mayor Jerry Wehrle of Lancaster made brief remarks and
    presented the President with a key to the city.]

        The President. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thanks
    for coming.
        Again, thank you all for coming out to say hello. We're kind of
    heading down the road, but before I leave I do want to say I ask for
    God's blessings on you, and may God continue to bless our country.
        Thank you. God bless.

    Note: The President spoke at 12:28 p.m. at the Grant County Courthouse
    Square. A tape was not available for verification of the content of
    these remarks.