He also signaled new flexibility on a format for presidential debates. Republican officials suggested he was poised to tell his staff to negotiate terms for the sessions with representatives for Al Gore and a bipartisan commission.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, who has spent much of the week at Bush's side, hinted that the Texas governor might now be willing to accept a second commission-sponsored debate.

Ridge said Bush "has made his point" in insisting that two of three debates be under separate, non-commission formats -- but that now it was time to move on.

Bush spent more than an hour of face-to-face politicking at a telecommunications-equipment factory near Pittsburgh.

"This is what I'm good at," he declared. "I like meeting people, my fellow citizens, I like interfacing with them."

With the campaign working hard to gain more control of the image Bush projects, he later lined up near his campaign plane with several dozen Pennsylvania motorcycle police officers who had escorted his motorcade.

He used them as a backdrop to thank the Fraternal Order of Police for endorsing his candidacy at its annual convention in Oklahoma City. "They'll have a friend in the White House," he said.

The events came a day after he promised to do more people-to-people events in the face of criticism from some top Republicans that he had not been energetic enough in countering Al Gore's rise in the polls.

"We turn on a dime," he said. "We're going to continue to have more conversations with Americans in settings where they live and work."

Later, at an airport rally in Springfield, Mo., Bush said, "I look forward to taking my case directly to the people of this country."

Bush began his day buying a cup of coffee at the "Jitter Cafe" inside the Marconi Communications plant, then he walked over to a group of about 40 workers seated at cafeteria tables.

"When you get in that booth, remember who came by," he said.

One woman asked him about the presidential debates. He reiterated his criticism of Gore for refusing to meet him next Tuesday on a prime-time edition of "Meet the Press."

But Bush signaled a new flexibility. "Yes, you will" see debates, he told the woman. "This guy is a good debater. I hope I'll be able to hold my own."

One worker, Todd Blumer, asked Bush how he would make difficult decisions as president. Bush said it was important "to stand on principle and listen. In politics, you can't worry about polls or focus groups."

"Also, I take great solace in my faith and my family as well," he said.

Before a larger group, Bush later fielded questions for more than a half hour -- some of them critical.

One worker told Bush that, as a Democrat, he didn't think the Republican Texas governor was getting his message across. Bush conceded that he had to do a better job at that, "I've got to get out and talk to people. I'm going to do a lot of that."

"Of course I'm going to welcome Democrats in my campaign -- that's how I'm going to win."

To a question on Bush's treatment by the news media, the candidate said, "Sometimes it comes out fairly and sometimes frankly I don't care for the coverage."

"The best thing for me to do to get my message out is to speak directly to people," he said.

Bush spent the day campaigning in Pennsylvania and Missouri -- two swing states his campaign views as critical -- and then was going back to Texas.

He will spend most of the weekend on his ranch near Waco. Bush was bringing with him a thick briefing book to prepare for debates.

He has already had several practice sessions, including one last weekend, in which Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., played the role of Gore.