"We've been through a recession, we've been through corporate scandals, and we've been through ... a terror attack. And yet we've overcome these obstacles. We've overcome them because we've got great workers in America," Bush said to the roar of an estimated 10,000 supporters, many of them waving large blue and yellow "W's."

The Wheeling rally was part of a weeklong tour of crucial battlegrounds leading up to his arrival at the convention in New York on Wednesday as Bush struggles to gain ground in a neck-and-neck contest against Kerry.

As hundreds of thousands of protesters converged on New York to denounce his policies ahead of Monday's convention start, Bush sought to project bipartisan appeal in a heavily Democratic state that he won in 2000 by advocating strongly for the local coal industry and gun ownership rights.

The Republican incumbent, appearing without a jacket or tie, met privately with half a dozen unionized steelworkers, including a registered Democrat who introduced him to the audience as a "man of steel" who had saved jobs by slapping 30 percent tariffs on steel imports in 2002 and 2003.

"If we think an industry is being treated unfairly, we'll enforce the law," said Bush.

"I thought I needed to stand up for steel, and I did stand up for steel. I put in place safeguards to restore fairness to the market to help our steel folks adjust. And it worked. The plan worked. These folks back here are working in good jobs, good high-paying jobs," he said to deafening cheers.

'CLEAN COAL'

Bush also drew attention to his administration's support for clean coal technology, regarded as a linchpin of the industry's future, by describing a 160 percent rise to $447 million in clean-coal research spending as evidence of his commitment to make the United States less dependent on Middle Eastern oil.

"I'm running against a fellow who is kind of shifting. A while ago he said coal is a dirty source of energy. Then he decided he wanted to come to your state, and knock on your door. And then he said, now, well, I am for legislation that is supporting clean coal technology," Bush said of Kerry.

"He's out there mining for votes," Bush said. Meanwhile, the Kerry campaign issued statements accusing Bush of undermining the steel industry by abruptly scrapping his tariffs last December, 16 months ahead of schedule. The Kerry camp said Bush also has underfunded clean coal technology and cut funding for mine safety.

Most of Bush's 50-minute address was devoted to domestic policy, which will feature prominently in Bush's convention acceptance speech on Thursday night.

But at one point, he criticized Kerry for disparaging the White House's war on terrorism. "My opponent said that going to war with the terrorists is actually improving their recruiting efforts. I think the logic is upside-down," he said.

With Bush and Kerry running neck-and-neck nationwide, West Virginia could prove key to the outcome of the November election. The president won the heavily Democratic state and its five Electoral College votes from Democrat Al Gore in 2000 by advocating for coal and gun ownership rights.

Gore would have become president if he had proved the victor in West Virginia.

As a measure of the current race's tightness, Bush repeatedly urged his audience to register friends and neighbors to vote on Nov. 2 and get them to the polls.

It was Bush's 12th visit to West Virginia, where he will return next Sunday.