Ohio Representative Selected for Top Trade Negotiator

The next trade representative will face a tough fight in Congress to pass the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). And the new "general" for the battle will be Rep. Rob Portman, a Republican congressman who's represented his state of Ohio for the past 12 years.

President Bush made the announcement of Portman's nomination for the lead U.S. trade representative Thursday morning. If confirmed by the Senate, the Cincinnati representative will succeed Robert Zoellick, who has headed to the State Department to be the No. 2 man under Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Although not initially seen as a forerunner for the position, Portman has been one of Bush's greatest allies in Congress on trade, tax and other issues. Since 2001, he's served as the official liasion between the White House and House leadership. Portman's been a strong advocate of free trade on Capitol Hill, despite the fact that his state's been hit hard by job losses in the industrial sector.