The White House today stepped up its effort to take the high ground on the economy, as President Bush canceled planned travel to Alabama and Florida to remain at the White House and confer with his economic team.

Bush, who has been criticized for not taking a prominent enough public role as the economic crisis has unfolded, staged a hastily scheduled appearance outside the Oval Office today to offer words of encouragement on the economy.

“My administration is focused on meeting these challenges,” he said, though he offered no new proposals.

Bush was scheduled to travel to Huntsville, Ala., to visit the Huntsville Waste-to-Energy Facility, and then on to fundraisers in Huntsville and Jupiter, Fla., before returning to the White House.