Echoing comments he has been making at campaign stops across the country, Vice President Dick Cheney told party faithful on Monday in Milwaukee that it is vital to keep national security on the minds of voters heading into the November midterm election.

Cheney used his 20-minute address at a Republican fundraiser in this battleground state to defend the Bush administration's war on terrorism.

"We have to stay on the offensive until the danger to civilization is removed," Cheney told about 110 people at the Pfister Hotel downtown.

Some Marquette students worked at the event. Joe Fadness, a senior in the College of Arts & Sciences, was on the advance team, which prepared the city for the vice president's visit.

"You basically get the event ready, top to bottom," Fadness said. "I work one-on-one with the White House."

Fadness worked on other advance teams as a White House intern this summer, and asked to be put on this advance team.

Jessica Farley, a senior in the College of Arts & Sciences, volunteered to work as an usher. She said it was very exciting to have the opportunity to hear the vice president speak in person. Since there were some no-shows, after escorting people to the correct places Farley got to sit at one of the tables where plates were $1,000 or $5,000 for two plates and a photo opportunity with Cheney.

"Judging by the comments from the coordinators, it went off without a hitch. It was a success," Farley said. "I must admit, he's not as animated as I thought he'd be. … I liked what he was saying, though."

College of Engineering junior Jason Schroeder also ushered at the event.

"I thought that it was a pretty straightforward speech. He touched on a lot of issues that the administration has been dealing with in the last couple years," Schroeder said. "Overall I think it was successful for the Republican Party of Wisconsin."

Fadness also said he felt the vice president's event was a success.

"He laid out a clear vision for why Republicans need to be re-elected this November," Fadness said. "He laid out a clear vision for why Mark Green is the right man to be the governor of Wisconsin, and he laid out a clear vision for why George W. Bush is the right man to lead this country."

Cheney said voters must be reminded of the differences between Republicans and Democrats on fighting terrorism.

The Bush administration remains committed to fighting the war in Iraq, Cheney said, and withdrawing now would only embolden terrorists and lead to more death later.

"We are serious, and we will not relent, and we will prevail," Cheney said.

About 30 protesters with signs criticizing the war in Iraq gathered across the street from the hotel and silently waved flags while Cheney spoke.

Protester Lucia Murtaugh, 70, a retired school administrator from Milwaukee, held a sign that read, "Protect Civil Liberties." She said she volunteers in a meal program serving 500 people a day and that Cheney was out of touch with plight of people in poverty.

"It would have been better if he had dinner with people who can't even afford $5 a meal," she said.

As of Friday, Cheney had already attended 91 fundraisers for midterm election candidates, raising nearly $40 million.

Wisconsin GOP spokesman Bob Delaporte would not estimate how much money was raised from Cheney's Milwaukee visit. Assuming all of those in attendance paid the minimum donation, the event brought in at least $112,000.

While some Republican candidates have tried to distance themselves from the administration, Wisconsin GOP gubernatorial candidate Mark Green, a four-term congressman from Green Bay, spoke at the event and said afterward that he was delighted Cheney was there. Also speaking prior to Cheney was Republican attorney general nominee J.B. Van Hollen.

Doyle's campaign used the Cheney visit to continue its strategy of tying Green to Bush, citing the Congressional Observer. It determined Green voted in favor of the president's agenda 92 percent of the time.

"Congressman Green sends a very clear message to Wisconsin today — that Dick Cheney's values are his values, and that he backs the decisions the Bush-Cheney administration has made," said Doyle's spokesman Anson Kaye.

Bridget Thoreson of The Marquette Tribune contributed to this report. Associated Press Writer Dinesh Ramde also contributed to this report.