WASHINGTON — President Bush will come to Cincinnati on Monday to mount his final push to get congressional approval for a possible war against Iraq.

His visit comes the day before Congress begins debate on a resolution authorizing the president to use military force “as he determines to be necessary and appropriate” to defend the national security of the United States and enforce all relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions regarding Iraq.

BUSH'S VISITS

Feb. 2, 2001: Columbus, focus on education reform. May 24, 2001: Cleveland, faith-based initiative. Sept. 6, 2001: Toledo, hosting Mexican President Vicente Fox. Jan. 8: Hamilton, signing Education Reform Bill. May 10: Columbus, welfare reform and Gov. Bob Taft fund-raiser. June 14: Columbus, Ohio State University commencement address. July 1: Cleveland, compassionate conservatism. Source: Ohio Republican Party

The president wanted to follow his address to the United Nations last month with a speech aimed at middle America, White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said.

“President Bush is going to speak directly to the American people about the threat Saddam Hussein poses,” Mr. Stanzel said

The exact time and place for the midday speech was still being made final Thursday. Mr. Stanzel said Cincinnati was chosen because President Bush wanted to speak to “citizens from the heartland of America who are interested in this important issue.”

Greater Cincinnati has been one of the most reliably Republican metropolitan areas in the country. In the 2000 election, President Bush won Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.

The University of Cincinnati's Ohio Poll released last week showed that 71 percent of Ohioans approve of President Bush's performance, slightly higher than most national polls; 70 percent support his foreign policy.

“He feels Cincinnati would be receptive to his message,” said Ohio Rep. Rob Portman, a member of the House GOP leadership who is helping organize the visit. “We represent the heartland. We are reflective of the country at large.”

Even the city's Democratic mayor, Charlie Luken, said the president would find a receptive audience for his campaign to remove Saddam Hussein by force if necessary.

“I'm sure it will be received warmly,” he said of Mr. Bush's speech. “This is part of the country where the president has always been very popular, and I'm sure he still is.”

Mr. Luken begged off questions on where he stood on potential military action in Iraq, saying he had enough problems.

“I'll stick to my knitting,” he said.

But Hamilton County's Democratic Party co-chairman, Tim Burke, said the president has not convinced ordinary Americans that invading Iraq is a good idea.

The president has failed to line up an international coalition of other countries like the first President Bush did in the Persian Gulf, nor has he outlined exactly what the purpose of a war would be, Mr. Burke said.

“Whatever party the president is, it's always nice when they come to Cincinnati,” he said. “If that helps engage the citizens of Cincinnati in this debate, all the better.”

The president has visited Ohio seven times since taking office. His most recent visit to Greater Cincinnati was in January, when he signed his education reform bill at Hamilton High School. That was a nod to Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, who chairs the House education committee and helped push the bill through Congress.

“It's a feather in the city's hat to have him come here,” said Art Hull, president of the World Affairs Council of Cincinnati.

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