CHICAGO — President George W. Bush raised more than $3.6 million in contributions at his $2,000-a-plate luncheon fundraiser Tuesday in the Windy City.

But outside, hundreds of protesters blasted the president for his foreign policy, even as he met with cheers inside. The president touted several accomplishments in job creation, faith-based initiatives, and health care and education reform, but spent much of his speech addressing the war on terrorism and the Iraqi conflict.

"Terrorists declared war on the United States of America and war is what they got ... In Afghanistan and Iraq, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes," Bush said. "Those regimes chose defiance, and those regimes are no more."

The fundraiser brought powerful Republicans from throughout the state, including U.S. Senate hopefuls Jim Oberweis, John Cox, Jack Ryan and state Sen. Steve Rauschenberger (R-Elgin). U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert, the third-ranking Republican in the country, was also on hand to introduce Bush.

Throughout his address, the president argued that the future of freedom and peace depend on America's actions now. He also drew much applause when he urged the Senate to approve legislation that has already passed the House, intending to curb frivolous malpractice lawsuits.

"Those senators must understand that no one has ever been healed by a frivolous lawsuit," the president said, meeting with loud cheers from the crowd.

Overall, the Bush-Cheney '04 campaign raised $6 million from the midday Chicago luncheon and a later fundraiser in Cincinnati — making Tuesday the campaign's largest one-day fundraising total since the president announced his intention to run for re-election on May 16, said Nicolle Devenich, the campaign's communication director.

It also marked the tenth time the president has visited Illinois since losing the state to Al Gore in the 2000 election.

Devenich said the re-election effort has raised between $82 million and $84 million thus far and hopes to raise $170 million by the end of the primaries.

State Sen. Dan Rutherford (R-Chenoa), whose district contains part of Champaign County, said he attended Monday's fundraiser to show his continuing support for the president, and because he hopes to serve as a delegate for the Republican Party's National Convention, as he did in 2000.

Rutherford said the president's visit to Illinois would likely bolster support for the state Republican party, which suffered defeats in every statewide elected office in 2002 with the exception of Judy Baar Topinka and her treasurer seat.

"Having him here always energizes the (party's) base," Rutherford said.

Former Gov. Jim Edgar, who is a fellow at the University's Institute for Government and Public Affairs, said while Illinois would be a difficult state for the president to win because of its traditionally Democratic leanings, it is still possible for Bush to win the state's 21 electoral votes.

"Illinois is difficult for any Republican," Edgar said.

Although Bush's popularity has dropped in recent polls, Edgar said he expects those numbers to rise again as the election nears, and if the public gets more certainty with the economy and the war in Iraq.

But the protesters attacked Bush on both points, carrying signs critical of the war in Iraq and chanting slogans such as "Money for jobs and education, not for war and occupation" and "People die, Bush lie."

They also harassed people leaving the luncheon, crying "Shame on you."

Anthony Moser, a sophomore at Loyola University in Chicago, said he attended the protest out of "loathing for President Bush."

He questioned the president's appropriations request for $87 billion to rebuild Iraq at the same time he was hosting expensive fundraising dinners.

Edgar's confidence in Bush remains strong despite recent criticisms.

"Some people are nervous right now because he's down in the polls," he said. "If he'd have stayed up then I'd be worried because you're going to have a down period. It's much better to have a down period now, a year before the election."

Downstate Congressman John Shimkus, who raised about $100,000 for Tuesday's fundraiser and returned Monday from a two-day trip around Iraq, said he didn't think the war would hurt Bush in the election. Shimkus said he saw much progress made in restoring services to Iraqis since the fighting began.

But Kent Belcher of Chicago, another protester, said he thought the president's decision to invade Iraq without the support of the United Nations was foolish.

"We need to work with the world again," Belcher said. "Hopefully, we'll have a president next year who sees it my way."