House Republicans Predict CAFTA's Passage Tonight

By JIM ABRAMS
The Associated Press
Wednesday, July 27, 2005; 11:10 AM

WASHINGTON -- In a rare piece of lobbying on Capitol Hill, President Bush appealed personally to fellow Republicans Wednesday to close ranks behind a free trade agreement with Central America that faces a very close floor vote.

The House was beginning debate on the Central American Free Trade Agreement later in the day, with a vote coming as early as Wednesday night. With Democrats strongly against it, passage depends on keeping Republican defections to a minimum.