SIOUX CITY — Presumptive Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry emphasized the importance of Iowa’s role in his nomination during a visit to Sioux City on Saturday, the second stop in a seven day trip beginning at his birthplace in Colorado and ending in Boston at the Democratic National Convention.

“You chose me first,” he said. “You believe there is always hope, there’s always something better … every great effort in this country happened when Americans came together, and no other state in the country knows this better than Iowa.”

Nearly 3,000 supporters from Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota came to the Missouri riverfront to rally with Kerry and his wife Teresa Heinz Kerry. Kerry’s daughters, Alexandra and Vanessa, and stepson Chris Heinz were also on hand.

Kerry spokesman Colin Van Ostern said Kerry has chosen each stop on “America’s Freedom” trail at cities that represent American character.

Rally attendee Andy Baker, of Sioux City, said he feels Kerry represents Midwesterners well.

“I’m glad we had the opportunity to have him here in the tri-state area,” Baker said. “We all basically have the same values.”

Judy Engh, of Spirit Lake, said she drove to Sioux City to see Kerry because she wanted to make sure the nation sees Kerry has a huge amount of support.

“The future of our democracy and the world depends on electing Kerry,” she said.

Countering Kerry’s visit was a protest at a busy intersection near where the rally was to take place, with about 100 Bush supporters gathering early in the morning to rally against Kerry’s voting record and political views.

ISU alumna Julie Staley, of Charter Oak, said Kerry claims to be Catholic but votes a liberal moral agenda.

“According to him, my 16-year-old daughter could get an abortion without my knowledge,” Staley said. “I don’t even think she can get her ears pierced without my knowledge. That’s pretty radical. He doesn’t have the kind of moral leadership we need in this country.”

Rebekah Speight, of Sioux City, said her husband has been serving in Iraq for about five months, and she doesn’t want Kerry to be put in charge of him and the other troops.

“He voted to send the troops but didn’t vote to give them support — that’s a big deal. You just don’t do that,” Speight said. “If my husband and his friends were here, they’d be [at the protest] right now.”

After Kerry’s introduction by Gov. Tom Vilsack, Heinz Kerry took the stage, praising Iowans for their values and taking lightly veiled jabs at the Bush administration.

“I think probably the most insidious thing is the lack of dignity and respect for and the untruths perpetrated on the American people,” she said.

“What is in America’s heart is not what is being seen. That is the bright shining light we have to open to the world … what we need is a moral nation, not a moralistic nation.”

Kerry announced at the gathering that he was recently endorsed by the Omaha and Winnebago tribes.

Scattered throughout the crowd, attendees waved signs that proclaimed Latinos, fire fighters, kids and nurses also supported Kerry. After sighting a poster declaring “Women love Edwards,” Kerry took a lighthearted moment to reflect on his similarities to his vice presidential running mate John Edwards.

Kerry said he and Edwards share the same first name, both of them are lawyers and senators — and they are even connected through a popular entertainment magazine.

“He was People magazine’s sexiest politician, and I read People magazine,” Kerry joked.

Edwards appeared Saturday in Milwaukee.