President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney both visited the state Monday, where they quickly raised money and shook hands in Atlanta and near Savannah.

Bush brought in an estimated $3.2 million over dinner at the mansion of Home Depot chief Bob Nardelli, while Cheney spoke about Iraq and raised money for the re-election of Rep. Max Burns, R-Ga. Bush has already raised more than $200 million.

Bush's $15,000-a-couple reception was a private affair in an area that's the most generous to Republicans in the state. Cheney raised about $175,000 for Burns' campaign as he talked to nearly 200 people who paid $250 a plate. ``We're always honored to have the president of the United States in Georgia,'' said Marty Klein of the Georgia Republican Party. ``Clearly, he's extremely popular in the state.''

Cheney reaffirmed the U.S. military's June 30 deadline to hand over sovereignty to a government in Iraq, hours after a suicide car bombing killed the leader of the Iraqi Governing Council. ``We will do what is necessary to destroy the terrorists and return sovereignty to the Iraqi people,'' Cheney said. ``Iraq will never go back to the camp of tyranny and terror.''

At Bush's event, about 50 anti-Bush demonstrators stood down the road from Nardelli's home, waving signs and chanting slogans such as ``Hey hey, ho ho, President Bush has got to go'' and ``No justice, no peace.'' ``Our economy is in the tank, Bush took us to war under false pretenses, and he's weakened the civil liberties and freedoms this country was founded on,'' said protester Katherine Fowler.

The demonstrators complained that police, citing security concerns, moved them a few blocks from a busier intersection. More than 15 police officers directed traffic and kept an eye on the protesters but there were no confrontations.

Georgia is expected to throw its electoral votes behind Bush in the November election.

Cheney's appearance at the World War II museum also drew a small band of protesters opposed to the war in Iraq. Four people standing across the street held signs saying ``Arrest Cheney,'' ``Bring Them Home Now,'' and ``War Is Not The Answer.''

Cheney said the recently unveiled abuse of Iraqi inmates at Abu Ghraib prison was wrongdoing by a handful of soldiers. ``The misconduct of a few does not diminish the honor and decency that our service men and women have shown in Iraq,'' Cheney said.

The John Kerry campaign criticized Bush for making a closed-to-the-public campaign trip instead of addressing high gas prices and unemployment. ``Georgians want a president who can create a stronger, more secure America and provide leadership on these pocketbook issues,'' said Anthony Coley, spokesman for Sen. Kerry, the presumed Democratic nominee.

But Bush's supporters claim his economic policies have helped create 1.1 million jobs since August.

The Cheney event was expected to give Burns more than $1 million on hand for his race, putting him well ahead of his Democratic challengers.

Burns has earned $879,306 through March 31, while his closest Democratic competitor, John Barrow, had $437,003.

(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)