"She's going to talk about our priorities. Our priorities are our faith. Our priorities are our family. Our priorities are the country we love," Bush told a crowd of about 5,000 in Dayton.
Earlier, on morning news shows, Laura Bush talked about what she would tell the convention delegates.
"I'm going to talk about George. I'm going to talk about the values we have from growing up in West Texas," the former teacher and librarian said.
"I think I have the opportunity to say things about him that no one else can say, obviously," said the potential first lady.
Candidate to watch from Ohio
When the GOP candidate kissed his wife farewell at the airport, he wished her well on her big political debut.
"She's nervous for herself, but she shouldn't be because she's got a nice message and I'm excited for her," said Bush.
"I'm really excited for America to get to know her and to get to see her. And it's going to be very interesting watching from afar," he added.
Both Bushes practiced their speeches separately on the TelePrompTer on Sunday night before about a dozen friends at the home of William DeWitt Jr., Bush's one-time business partner.
Bush will watch his wife's speech from a Columbus, Ohio, high school and will make his own brief remarks to delegates.
"He'll reassure the delegates he's on his way," said campaign spokeswoman Karen Hughes.
'I'm asking for your help'
Bush is making his way eastward on a six-day, pre-convention tour of battleground states that will bring him to Philadelphia and the Republican National Convention on Wednesday.
Ohio is one of six states that have voted Democratic in the past two presidential elections. By targeting Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania, Bush has signaled he is going to concede nothing at this point in the campaign.
"These are states that Republicans have not done well in lately, but that's going to change in November," Bush said.
At the University of Dayton, a Catholic school, Bush faced an audience hungry for a Republican victory in November.
"I like him a lot," said one man. "It's about time we got a good, God-fearing Republican back in office."
"I'm disgusted with a lot of the stuff that's going on in the last eight years," said another Bush supporter.
"I'm asking for your help," Bush told the large and cheering crowd at a rally. "I want your work. I want your support."
Standing in front of a huge American flag, Bush issued familiar refrains from a stock campaign speech, calling for tax cuts, privatizing part of the Social Security system, strengthening America's military, revitalizing education programs and bringing a new sense of honor to the White House, a clear swipe at the scandals of the Clinton administration.
Confetti fired from small cannons rained down on the candidate and his entourage as Bush worked the crowd, shaking hands and smiling broadly.
But by dispatching small teams of protesters to Bush's events, Democrats hope to rain on Bush's pre-convention parade.
"A lot of people have made a good living, finally, after the years with Reagan and Bush before," said one union worker. "We do not need another Bush in the White House."
The Democratic National Committee is also spending $3.5 million on two ads attacking Bush's record in Texas on environmental issues.
