About 2,000 protesters,some shouting "shame on Bush," met US President George W.Bush in the Pacific Northwest today as he sought topromote his environmental agenda and raise campaign money.
Outside a University of Portland arena where Mr Bush spoke ata $1 million fundraiser for his re-election campaign, about2,000 demonstrators waved signs that denounced the president'senvironmental and economic policies and the US occupation ofIraq.
Riot police kept the crowds apart from the president andguarded intersections in the residential neighborhood Mr Bush'smotorcade passed.
At one neighborhood intersection dozens of protestersgreeted the motorcade with their fingers raised in an obscenegesture, and a lawn sign along the way read, "This tree isanti-Bush."
Oregon's unemployment rate at 8.1 percent was the highestof any state in July but Bush's political team regards thestate as competitive in the 2004 election.
Mr Bush told his audience of 500 that their financialcontributions reflected "the depth of support here in Oregon"and urged backers to energize grass-rootssupport.
In Portland last year, anti-war protesters clashed withpolice near Mr Bush's hotel, in what was then one of the biggestdemonstrations against his administration. Today's protestsappeared non-violent.
