MIAMI -- Even as he continued to grapple with Middle East violence, President Bush yesterday used a visit to south Florida to focus attention on his domestic agenda, touting free trade, low taxes and his vision for new immigration laws as cornerstones of a strong economy.

"One of the jobs of government is to put policy in place that encourages the entrepreneurial spirit to flourish," Mr. Bush said on the waterfront in Miami Beach, as he continued to talk up his program to bolster economic growth.

That message has taken on new urgency for the White House as economic growth slows and high gasoline prices sap public satisfaction with Bush administration management of the economy. It came less than 100 days before congressional elections that Democrats hope will catapult them back into power on Capitol Hill.

Speaking at a U.S. Coast Guard center, Mr. Bush did not mention the elections. But he sounded every bit the political campaigner as he talked of how free trade was creating jobs. "I'm worried about protectionist tendencies in the United States," he said, applauding growing trade with Mexico and Chile that followed agreements with those countries.

The president pledged to continue working for an agreement on global trade after negotiations broke down last week over disagreements about agricultural production.

Mr. Bush also talked up tax cuts that he said had helped entrepreneurs start new businesses. And he strenuously called for a comprehensive immigration-law overhaul that would strengthen border security while providing opportunities for some illegal immigrants to become citizens. "Rational immigration policy is possible," he said, as he applauded the contributions of Cuban and Haitian immigrants in south Florida.

Immigration legislation remains stalled in Congress, as House Republicans insist that border security and tougher penalties be the centerpiece of any overhaul, while Mr. Bush and much of the Senate want a guest worker program and a path to citizenship for some illegal immigrants.

The policies outlined by the president yesterday hewed closely to a script he has relied on for months and, in some cases, years. But with his party in a fight to retain control of Congress this fall, Mr. Bush is also attempting to recover his popularity by paying longer visits to cities across the country and talking up his economic initiatives.

In the first such visit just more than three weeks ago, the president traveled to Chicago, where he met with business leaders and toured an electronics plant west of the city.

Miami, with its relatively low unemployment and a busy port, presented the president with a good-news story, as well as an opportunity to visit with his brother Jeb, the Florida governor.

The president ate at several local institutions and met with community and business leaders Sunday and yesterday. He also took time for a luncheon fundraiser for the Republican National Committee.

Miami additionally provided the opportunity for the White House to talk about its preparations for this year's hurricane season. Mr. Bush visited the National Hurricane Center yesterday morning, and newly appointed FEMA Director David Paulison outlined efforts to correct the problems that plagued the federal response to Hurricane Katrina last year.

It remains unclear, however, if the tours, speeches and meals at local landmarks will restore the president's standing among Americans.

While the economy is growing -- though at a slower rate than earlier this year -- there is widespread dissatisfaction with Mr. Bush's leadership. Just 39 percent of respondents to a recent Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll said they approved of the president's handling of the economy, virtually unchanged since the beginning of the year.