President Bush's message from Cincinnati tonight is aimed at rallying support for military action against Iraq in a supportive heartland environment. But some top politicos from Ohio couldn't fit the townhall-style speech into their schedule and some Cincinnatians are opting to meet down the street from Cincinnati Museum Center at an anti-war demonstration.

        Among those who can't make it: the state auditor, because of campaign commitments; a Supreme Court justice, who is attending a fund-raiser; and the lieutenant governor, who said she just doesn't plan to attend.

        About 700 invited guests will be present at Mr. Bush's speech in Union Terminal, which is hosted by the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce and the World Affairs Council of Cincinnati. The United Way and Community Chest was listed by the White House as a host organization, but Carol Aquino, the agency's vice president for communications, said that is not true.

        Among those who will be in the audience: Gov. Bob Taft.

        “I believe the people of Ohio support our president,” Mr. Taft said Sunday after attending the dedication of new and renovated school buildings in Goshen. “There is no question Iraq is a dangerous country ... I think it's important we take a strong stand with regard to its development of weapons of mass destruction. Hopefully it will bear fruit short of war.”

        Meanwhile, religious leaders from about a dozen different denominations gave anti-war speeches Sunday night at a meeting at Clifton United Methodist Church. The event was a precursor to tonight's demonstration in Laurel Park in the West End, which is expected to draw hundreds of protesters starting around 6:30 p.m.

        Even though the president probably will not be able to the see them from the Museum Center - about a mile away - organizers say it's important to voice their viewpoints.

        “We hope he'll see us, but we have no idea if he will,” said Sister Alice Gerdeman, coordinator of the Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center in Over-the-Rhine. “But the president will know we're there. Whether he sees us with his eyeballs or if he hears there were this many people there from someone else, it certainly is worthwhile.”

        During his 8 p.m. speech, the president will lay out his reasoning for why the country should go to war if necessary to enforce United Nations resolutions and prevent Saddam Hussein from passing weapons of mass destruction on to terrorists who might take aim on America.

        But Sunday night, local religious leaders said military strikes against Iraq would not solve the problem.

        “We need to keep up our defenses to protect ourselves, but clearly, we need more dialogue,” said Paul Knitter, a board member of the International Interreligious Peace Council. “With Saddam Hussein, I don't know how much dialogue would work. But we need more dialogue with more of the Islamic world so that gradually the support of the Islamic nations would be withdrawn from Hussein and to the United States.”

        The appearance comes as Congress debates the idea of authorizing the president to use whatever military force he feels is necessary in Iraq. Across the country, thousands also are voicing protests against possible U.S. military attacks against Iraq. Roughly 5,000 people chanting “no more war” filled downtown Portland, Ore., Saturday. In Texas, the chant by hundreds who flocked to the state capitol was “No more blood for oil.”

        Curt Steiner, a GOP campaign consultant based in Columbus, said tonight's event is not relevant to this year's Ohio campaigns.

        “It's really a national event that happens to be occurring in Cincinnati,” Mr. Steiner said.

        Reporter Cindy Kranz and the Associated Press contributed.

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