Bush goes for votes with trade protection

President Bush is gambling that he'll gain more votes than he'll lose in 2004 by bending his commitment to free trade to protect beleaguered industries and workers from foreign competition in states crucial to his re- election.

But the White House calculation could backfire if Bush's trade protection for the steel and textile industries sparks the retaliation threatened by Europe and China that would target U.S. industries in states that are just as essential to Bush's re-election.