SAN DIEGO -- Vice President Dick Cheney addressed about 4,000 sailors and Marines aboard a U.S. Navy ship in San Diego Tuesday before attending a luncheon for 50th Congressional District GOP candidate Brian Bilbray.

Cheney thanked members of Expeditionary Strike Group 1 during a 15-minute speech aboard the amphibious assault ship Bonhomme Richard, which is docked at Naval Base San Diego.

"Each of you serves the United States of America in a period of national challenge, military transformation and unprecedented threats," Cheney said.

"We have asked you and your comrades to carry out urgent, difficult assignments one after the other," he said. "You have done so day in and day out with exemplary skill and honor."

Following his speech at Naval Base San Diego, Cheney addressed a fundraising luncheon for Bilbray at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel and Marina.

Bilbray is running against Democrat Francine Busby in the June 6 race for the 50th Congressional District seat formerly held by Republican Randy "Duke" Cunningham.

Cunningham resigned last November after he admitted taking $2.4 million in bribes in exchange for steering contracts with the Pentagon. He was sent to federal prison for eight years.

Cheney's visit was met with protest, 10News reported.

Some protestors told 10News they are tired of the war, and they don't like Cheney's attitude about many things.

They also said they don't want Bilbray to go back to Congress to support the administration.

"We have an unparallel crisis under way in this country with the lack of checks and balances and an incompetent, corrupt national administration that needs to be changed," said a protestor.

"I'm really upset about the things that are going on in Iraq. I'm also not happy about Bilbray running for Congress," said a protestor.

The vice president called the election "extraordinarily important."

"There is no doubt in my mind that Brian has the experience and the qualifications to be a superb member of the 50th District here in California," Cheney said. "I look forward to welcoming him to Washington after a solid victory on the sixth of June."

In a statement, Busby chided Bilbray for relying on Cheney to raise "special interest" money.

"You cannot expect politicians like Bilbray and Cheney to stand up for consumers after they have taken so many thousands of dollars from big oil." the Cardiff Elementary School board trustee said.

"We deserve a Congress that works toward a 21st century energy policy that encourages innovation and conservation and reduces our gas prices," she said.

The largely Republican 50th Congressional District includes the cities of Carlsbad, Del Mar, Encinitas, Escondido, San Marcos, Solana Beach and part of northern San Diego.

Cunningham resigned last November after he admitted taking $2.4 million in bribes in exchange for steering contracts with the Pentagon. He was sent to federal prison for eight years.

Cheney's San Diego visit was preceded by stops in San Francisco, Sacramento and Stockton to help Republicans running for Congress.