GREER, S.C. - President Bush stopped at BMW Manufacturing on Monday to talk about the economy in a region of the state that continues to lose manufacturing jobs despite the bump in the national economy and local employers like the auto plant.

Although people may lose textile or other manufacturing jobs, "there are programs to help people transition from one kind of job" to another, Bush said.

Later in the evening, the president pulled in an estimated $1.6 million for his re-election bid during a fund-raiser in nearby Greenville. The Upstate has long been a Republican stronghold.

During his economic address, the president emphasized the need for "fair and free trade" and welcomed international companies, such as BMW, building U.S. facilities that export around the world. "I don't really care who owns the plant," Bush said, as long as workers are getting paid.

He lauded U.S. workers as the world's most productive, saying that productivity eventually translates into better pay.

With the plant exporting about 60 percent of the 650 cars it makes daily, foreign trade is important, BMW worker Barry Bell said. "If we couldn't export, we wouldn't have as many jobs," he said.

Bush said the economy has been through a rough two years: terrorist attacks, war and investors losing confidence as executives broke federal securities laws and lied to them. "We've overcome a lot," he said.

There's only an inkling of better economic times ahead in South Carolina, where the economy started to slow three years ago. A state board that advises budget writers said last week it expects the state's revenues to grow about the same rate as inflation.

The slump has prompted waves of public and private sector layoffs - job losses that GOP Gov. Mark Sanford used last year in his campaign to unseat the Democratic incumbent.

Nationally, Bush's tax cuts have helped boost the economy, Sanford said Monday.

"The question that obviously remains is: Will that hold? Will that continue to be the case? ... I hope what he's done is enough to invigorate the economy. I think the verdict is still out," Sanford said.

In South Carolina, the governor said Bush's tax cuts have had a marginal effect "but not in any whole-scale measure yet. I think we still have a jobs and economy problem in South Carolina."

While BMW is a bright spot, the state has had an absence of major economic development deals during the past couple of years.

Any gains have been overshadowed by job losses throughout the state, particularly in manufacturing, which lost 19,100 workers between September 2002 and September 2003 alone. In September, the state had 128,823 unemployed workers, up more than 44,000 since Bush took office. Manufacturers have cut their payrolls by more than 16 percent, or 58,800 jobs.

It's bad news, but "there's nothing a president can do - that's any good - that will bring back manufacturing jobs the way they used to be here," said Clemson University economist Curtis Simon. "It's not going to happen."

State House Speaker David Wilkins, R-Greenville, said Bush "and all of us are concerned about the loss of jobs and putting lots of emphasis on job creation and job retention. We're certainly trying to do that on the state level."

"Many of the things the president has focused on are beginning to have a positive impact," said Wilkins, who was a chairman of the Bush-Cheney campaign in 2000.

While Bush remained upbeat with recent reports on growth in the national economy, he continued to face criticism from Democrats for the country's jobless economic recovery.

"Any of the ... South Carolina workers who have lost his or her job since President Bush took office can tell you, until their job has been recovered, this is no recovery," said Democratic presidential candidate Wesley Clark.

"Instead of traveling to a thriving BMW plant, the president should visit the shuttered textile mills and factories that have been forced to close their doors and lay off thousands of workers," said Rep. Dick Gephardt, D-Mo., another presidential candidate.

Bush should have offered details on dealing with job loss, said fellow candidate U.S. Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C.

"Today, President Bush had the opportunity to finally take a stand for U.S. manufacturing jobs and commit to making China start playing by the rules. He took a pass on that opportunity, and South Carolina workers deserve far better than that," Edwards said.

Democratic hopeful Joe Lieberman said Bush "has stood idly by while more than 2.5 million American manufacturing workers nationwide have lost their jobs."

There was at least one light moment during Bush's speech at BMW.

He met with Stephen Thies, president and CEO of Spartanburg Steel Products and Spartanburg Stainless, which makes beer kegs among other products.

Bush told Thies he quit drinking in 1986. "We did notice a dip in demand at a point in time," Thies replied.

The president then took a short drive to Greenville for a $2,000-a-ticket campaign fund-raiser Monday night.

About 75 war protesters and environmental activists gathered outside the event, carrying signs and chanting comments such as "Bush stop lying," "Mo more blood for Bush" and "End the occupation now."

Peggy Roache of Columbia was dressed in an oversized Uncle Sam outfit and hat. "'Stop the war' is a major, major message," she said.

Roache was carrying a black top hat that had fake money inside and a bumper sticker supporting Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich.

"Bush caters only to the rich, only people who can afford $2,000 a plate," she said. "He won't listen to what we have to say."

In addition to Sanford and Wilkins, many prominent South Carolina Republicans attended the event including former Govs. David Beasley, Carroll Campbell and James Edwards. U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham also was there along with Jim DeMint and Charlie Condon, both of whom are running for the Senate seat being vacated by Ernest "Fritz" Hollings, D-S.C.

"I cannot win without your help," Bush told the crowd in a thick Texas drawl. "I want to thank you for what you've done in the past, and I want to thank you for what you're fixin' to do."

The accent lessened as he launched into his formal stump speech.

In addition to the $1.6 million raised at the Monday night event, the president raked in $500,000 at an Arkansas luncheon, campaign spokesman Scott Stanzel said. First lady Laura Bush also did her part Monday, pulling in $350,000 in Delaware and $150,000 in Maine.