After Bush answered half a dozen written questions submitted by Greater Salem Chamber of Commerce members, one man shouted his concern: what would Bush do to help people like his 25-year-old mentally disabled son enter the workforce?

"Will I use the bully pulpit of the presidency to encourage people to be compassionate to their neighbors in need? Yes," Bush said.

When the man said that wasn't enough, Bush simply said, "Sorry," before ending the question-and-answer session to do some more handshaking.

Earlier questions ranged from tax cuts to foreign policy. Bush told the crowd he believes China and Russia pose the biggest threats to the United States.

Although he favors open trade with China, the country should be viewed as a competitor, not a strategic partner, he said.

Russia is a worry because it remains a nuclear power and has serious internal problems, he said.

"We should not throw more good money after bad in Russia," he said, referring to recent allegations that Russian officials diverted aid money loaned by the International Monetary Fund.

Bush said he plans to release a plan next week to revitalize the military.

"I want to make sure those who are enlisted in the military today are well paid, well housed and well trained," he said.

In a brief session with reporters after the breakfast meeting, Bush said he had spoken with New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman and told her he was sorry she had decided not to run for the Senate.

Whitman, a Republican, pulled the plug on her Senate campaign Tuesday, saying she couldn't be a good governor and a good candidate.

Bush said it is too early to say whether he would consider her as a running mate.

"I've got to earn my party's nomination. I have a lot of work to do," he said.