By AP/KWMU
Poplar Bluff, MO – President Bush spoke to thousands of people in the southeast Missouri town of Poplar Bluff Monday.
He was there at the request of some locals who circulated an invitation petition and even put up billboards, requesting a visit. "I get a lot of invitations," Bush told the crowd. "I've never gotten one with 10,000 signatures on it."
During his stump speech, Mr. Bush said he'd work to simplify the tax code and work to get rid of what he called frivolous lawsuits.
Bush also criticized Democratic rival John Kerry for taking what the president calls "yet another new position" on Iraq. He said despite what he calls another sudden change of heart, deposing Saddam Hussein was "right for America."
Bush noted Kerry voted to authorize the use of force, but against a bill that included funds for U.S. troops, then said he stands by both his Senate votes.
He cheered the decline last month in the nation's unemployment rate to 5.4%.
The President spent Monday night in Kansas City. He'll finish his two-day trip to Missouri today (Tuesday) with rallies in Lee's Summit, Sedalia, and Columbia before heading to Arkansas.