COLUMBUS - President Bush yesterday traveled to Ohio to talk about terrorism, but he arrived in the midst of the biggest statewide scandal in years and to a crowd of angry "Coingate" protesters. Mr. Bush's motorcade sped by as dozens of protesters held signs proclaiming their frustration over the unfolding scandal at the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation. "Mr. President, Give back all of my money," "What ethics?" "$50 million for how many favors?'' and "Noe raised over $100,000 and you're only returning $4,000? Sounds like fuzzy math to me."

As is typical during Ohio stops, Mr. Bush did not take any questions from reporters. The White House recently said Mr. Bush would not do an interview with The Blade.(Par for the course: Bush holds meetings that are by invitation only instead of open to the public, uses only supporters that are rehearsed in his presentations, rarely speaks to the White House Press Corpts and then only a few questions. )

Gregory Donelson, a 48-year-old Columbus resident, wore two large plastic dimes around his neck - a reference to the $10 million to $12 million that is missing from a state-financed rare-coin fund created by Toledo-area coin dealer and Republican fund-raiser Tom Noe.

"What if some of those dollars ... ended up at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue? That's the question to ask,'' said Mr. Donelson as he stood along East 17th Avenue, across the street from the Highway Patrol Academy where the President spoke.