Bush heads to Latin America to counter vision of left-leaning leaders

By Deb Riechmann
Associated Press
Mar. 8, 2007 08:06 AM

WASHINGTON - President Bush is challenging a widespread perception in Latin America of U.S. neglect that has helped fuel leftist leader Hugo Chavez's rising influence in America's backyard.

Bush and his wife, Laura, left Thursday on a five-nation tour to argue that strong democratic governments hold the promise of prosperity. He hopes his journey will resonate with the one in four Latin Americans who live on less than $2 a day and wonder whether democracy will ever deliver them a better life.

"The trip is to remind people that we care," Bush said in an interview Wednesday with CNN En Espanol. "I do worry about the fact that some say, Well, the United States hasn't paid enough attention to us,' or The United States really isn't anything more than worried about terrorism.' And when, in fact, the record has been a strong record."