In a campaign stop Friday in Milwaukee, President George W. Bush continued to insist that weapons of mass destruction exist in Iraq.

Citing David Kay’s interim report on the search for chemical and biological weapons, Bush said Kay had revealed a “clandestine network of biological laboratories” that stored and later destroyed long-range missiles and deadly biological agents.

“These findings already make clear that Saddam Hussein actively deceived the international community, was in clear violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1441 and was a danger to the world,” Bush said.

While some of the 1,800 audience members erupted in applause, raising cowboy hats, pom poms and babies in the air, others were unmoved.

University of Wisconsin 2002 graduate Sarah Carroll, 23, said she agreed with recent newscasts that presented opposition to Bush’s allegations.

“He had some stronger points, but he still has not found any weapons,” Carroll said. “A news program I saw last night said very much the opposite, that they never found anything.”

However, two Wisconsin Lutheran College students said they were convinced by Bush’s arguments and said they were thrilled to listen to his speech.

“This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said 18-year-old Melissa Bernhardt.

Wisconsin Lutheran College freshman Claudia Busse said she also agreed with Bush’s argument that the tax cuts must become permanent in order to boost the job market by the time she graduates.

Carroll disagreed, saying she thought permanent tax cuts would provide limited help to the job market, and Bush’s plan needed to be a “little more broad” to make a substantial impact.

Bush’s demand for permanent tax breaks was one of several direct pleas to Congress throughout the 45-minute speech.

“My point to the Congress is that people who invest capital in the small-business sector need certainty in the tax code,” Bush said. “And the idea of passing tax relief which is here one day and gone tomorrow is not good for economic recovery.”

Bush also plugged his proposals to limit the use of preventive medicine and designate class-action lawsuits to federal courts, both of which are “stuck in the Senate,” according to him.

Bush also pressed for developing renewable energy sources, as well as tapping coal supplies to decrease dependence on foreign energy sources.

After the speech, Bush spoke in a campaign luncheon that cost about 500 participants $2,000 per seat.

The fund-raiser brought in more than $800,000 for Bush’s re-election campaign, Wisconsin’s largest presidential-campaign fund-raiser ever.

Bush lost Wisconsin’s electoral votes in the 2000 election by a narrow margin and said he is confident he would carry the state in the general election in 2004.