Cornered By Iraq, Bush Seeks Boost From Latin American Trip

White House advisers have high hopes for President Bush's trip to Latin America this week.

Bush leaves Thursday for a seven-day visit to Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia, Guatemala, and Mexico, during which he will promote fair trade and try to strengthen those countries' bonds to the United States. The president is expected to announce, for example, an agreement with Brazil to encourage the use and trade of ethanol by both countries.

Another goal is to lift Bush's stature at home, where his job-approval ratings are hovering at about 30 percent, a low number that could inhibit his ability to get congressional support for his initiatives. The problem is that Bush is unlikely to score any big breakthroughs on his trip, so its PR value at home may be minimal.

Still, White House advisers say Bush remains committed to enhancing U.S. relations with Latin America, which was one of his goals when he became president in 2001. But 9/11, the war on terrorism, and the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have taken precedence.

There's another dimension to the visit: Bush wants to limit the growing influence of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who is extremely critical of the Bush administration and is trying to move other Latin American governments to the left.

By Kenneth T. Walsh