HOUSTON -- Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry stopped in Houston Thursday -- Earth Day -- and credited President George W. Bush with recycling.

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Kerry Speaks At Houston Rally

The Massachusetts senator said Bush has recycled the deficit, bad economic policies, bad environmental policies and bad foreign policy.

Kerry said that's why Bush should be recycled back to Crawford, where the Texan has a ranch.

Kerry spoke at a lunchtime rally at the University of Houston.

He highlighted his plan for a clean environment, emphasizing that a healthy environment and strong economy go hand-in-hand.

He considers environmental issues critical in his effort to beat the president at the polls.

"It makes a difference to our health care bills. It makes a difference to the length of our lives. It makes a difference (to) the quality of our lives. And we deserve a president who's going to fight for the American people," Kerry said.

He attacked the Bush administration's record on clear air, water and toxic waste site cleanup.

Some Bush supporters also attended the event.

"I'm here to listen to a lot of complaining," an unidentified Bush supporter said.

Earth Day founder Dennis Hayes said a healthy globe is a pivotal political issue.

"This was an issue that just wasn't a walk in the park. This was an issue the people voted on," Hayes said.

Houston is the nation's fourth largest city and vies with Los Angeles for having the smoggiest skies.

Kerry also criticized Bush's meeting with a top Saudi official, contending that consumers are paying billions of dollars in higher gasoline prices while the president is chummy with big oil producers.

"I believe the American people deserve a president who just isn't going to have a friendly talk, but who is going to fight to guarantee that we lower prices for Americans," Kerry said.

Kerry criticized a meeting in which, according to a broadcast report, Bush and Saudi Ambassador Prince Bandar bin Sulton discussed increasing oil production to drive down prices as the election nears.

"I don't know if it was a deal, I don't know if it was a secret pledge, I don't know if it was just a friendly conversation among friends," Kerry said. "The fact remains that whatever it was, the American people are getting a bad deal today."

Bandar has denied any linkage between the election and a Saudi pledge to the Bush administration to push for lower oil prices. CBS's 60 Minutes reported Sunday night that journalist Bob Woodward said Bandar promised Bush that Saudi Arabia will lower oil prices to ensure the U.S. economy is strong on Election Day.

"John Kerry delivered a deliberately false attack today, the basis of which has been refuted," Bush campaign spokesman Steve Schmidt said.

Kerry will attend a fund-raising event at a downtown Houston hotel Thursday evening. He's expected to raise $1 million at the event organized by Houston lawyers.

Bush Thursday stopped in Wells, Maine, and called for restoring or protecting as many as 3 million acres of wetlands over the next five years.

Bush toured a salt marsh. He was accompanied by his mother, Barbara Bush.

About 100 people, some bearing signs protesting Bush's policies on the environment and Iraq, lined a road leading to the reserve.