Facing some of the most difficult days of his presidency, President Bush plans to visit Hampton Roads on Friday to refocus public attention on what's long been his strongest issue: the war on terrorism.

As the White House braces for possible indictments of top aides in the CIA leak investigation and struggles to shore up a faltering Supreme Court nomination, Bush hopes to use a Norfolk speech to a friendly, mostly military crowd to rally support for the war in Iraq.

The details of the event have yet to be completed, but one official said it likely would be in the morning at a site such as Chrysler Hall or the Old Dominion University convocation center.