Sen. John McCain, speaking to reporters in a building at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, said his first visit to the city as the GOP nominee for president won’t be his last.

“Missouri will be … one of the most important states in November,” he told our colleague Jo Mannies and other reporters this evening.

He said he planned to spend “quite a bit” of time here leading up to the general election. He also said his trip isn’t just about money.

After a closed fundraiser tonight, McCain is conducting a town-hall meeting of sorts at Savvis Inc. tomorrow morning. The event is for employees of the financial services company and is not open to the general public.

In other comments, McCain reiterated support for House passage of the surveillance bill and for the ongoing war effort in Iraq.

The fundraiser is being held at the Frontenac Hilton, where attendees had to pass a gauntlet of about 25 sign-waving union protestors gathered at each of two entrances.

 Randy Kiser, state field director for the state AFL-CIO of Missouri, said the protest was aimed at underscoring labor’s view that McCain opposes the average worker and doesn’t understand the economic problems facing Americans.

“There’s a concern that people aren’t aware of his real record,” Kiser said. 

When asked about the protest at his earlier press conference, McCain said: “It’s a free country.”

However, he added that he has a strong and long record on economic issues “going back 25 years” that he believes is right for the country.

 ”It’s a conservative record, and one I’m proud of,” he said.

 For a look at some of the guests at the fundraiser, click here.