President George W. Bush asked a crowd of more than 20,000 supporters gathered Saturday at the Target Center to help him win Minnesota.

“We are here to ask you for your vote,” he said, referring to himself and his wife, Laura Bush. “With your help, we will carry Minnesota.”

The enthusiastic crowd greeted Bush with cheers and signs. During his speech, the president pledged to keep Americans safe and to continue the fight against terrorism.

While protestors gathered outside the Target Center, Bush supporters inside watched Air Force One land at the airport on the hanging jumbo screens.

The crowd jumped to its feet when the president appeared on the landing platform and again when he entered the Target Center.

“The next president will set the course for the war on terror and the economy,” Bush said as he began his speech. “And I’m ready for the job.”

Outside the event, a group of approximately 100 protested Bush’s visit. Some protestors held signs and most made noise, with chants including “Three more days,” “Outsource Bush,” and “Who’s a terrorist? Bush is a terrorist.”

There was some shoving and a war of words between the protestors and Bush supporters before and after the event.

“It’s an administration of hypocrisy,” said political science and theater junior Katie Hartman, who held a sign that read, “I’m glad my mom didn’t abort me so I could die in an unjust war.”

She said Bush invaded Iraq “to line the pockets of the already rich.”

During his speech, Bush said there are clear choices to make in this election about the country’s safety, economy, quality of life, senior citizens and core values.

Repeatedly bringing up Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry’s record in the Senate, Bush said the Democrat has been on the wrong side of public policy for his whole political career and continuously changes his positions.

“My opponent’s positions are kind of like the weather in Minnesota,” he said. “If you don’t like it, wait a little and it’ll change.”

While discussing the situation in Iraq, Bush said there will not be a military draft as long as he is president. He said the all-volunteer army has succeeded in bringing al-Qaida to justice and driving Saddam Hussein from power.

Leading Minnesota Republicans and local sports personalities were also in attendance to praise the president and help fill the time before his arrival.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty said he had a prediction about who would win Minnesota on Tuesday. He held up a maroon University flag with a large gold “M” and turned it upside down to form a “W.”

But outside, University student Sonja Wahlberg, a member of NARAL Pro-Choice Minnesota, said she’s protesting to correct a misunderstanding.

“We have to show the Bush people how this is not a swing state; it’s a Democratic state,” she said.

Former University wrestler Brock Lesner told the crowd he thought Bush was a great president.

Lesner poked fun at former Gov. Jesse Ventura for endorsing Kerry and said he had challenged Ventura to a wrestling match.

John Kindseth, a student at Hamline University, said he came to support the president, even though parts of the event were a little sappy.

“I really enjoyed hearing Bush.” he said. “And I was glad to hear the clarification that Kerry is a flip-flopper.”

– Bryce Haugen contributed to this article.