(CBS News) President Obama embarks on a weekend of summitry with Latin American leaders in Cartagena, Colombia. The White House hopes to use the meeting to spotlight the economic benefits of hemispheric trade.

In a clear signal that the president is, in effect, bringing his reelection campaign to the Summit of the America's, he made a quick stop in politically important Florida before traveling to Colombia. In an 11-minute speech, he told an audience at the Port of Tampa, "We want them (Latin American countries) spending money on American -made goods, so that American businesses can put more Americans back to work."

The port is a major shipping point for exports to Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and other trading partners. It is the latest backdrop in the president's election-year effort to remind voters that increased trade generates more jobs. The White House notes 40 percent of U.S. exports go to Latin America. (The president faces a political balancing challenge on the trade issue. Unions, a major Democratic power base, have often criticized trade deals with Latin America countries, fearing lower wages south of the border reduce job opportunities at home.)

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CBS Radio News White House correspondent Peter Maer is in Seoul, South Korea, covering President Obama's participation in the international nuclear security summit.

(CBS News) SEOUL - Setting the tone for a nuclear security summit, President Obama reiterated Monday his call for a world without nuclear weapons.

Mr. Obama told a university audience in South Korea that the U.S. possesses more nuclear arms than it needs, and can reduce that arsenal without damaging America's security.

The remark will keep the president at odds with Republicans who believe any major cuts in the number of nuclear warheads would weaken the efficacy of the U.S. nuclear deterrent.

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He may not be able to recapture the euphoria of his 2008 Iowa caucus win, but President Obama will have a role as the first votes of the 2012 presidential campaign are cast next Tuesday.

The Obama campaign is mapping out plans for the president to speak to his supporters via live web chat at locations across Iowa Tuesday night. A campaign official told CBS News the effort will use technology that was not available four years ago. Screens will show the president, in Washington, communicating with people simultaneously at various gathering places in the Hawkeye State.

Mr. Obama can be expected to sound some of the same appeals on "middle class" issues that he has used in recent speeches and his statements during the year-end fight over extending the payroll tax cut.

While the president is trying to stay above the fray for as long as he can heading into the campaign year, the Iowa remarks will offer an early preview of his 2012 script.

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Former President George H.W. Bush has given an "unofficial" endorsement to Mitt Romney in the race for the Republican presidential nomination.

"I think Romney is the best choice for us," Mr. Bush told the Houston Chronicle. He then addressed a fellow Texan in the presidential race, Gov. Rick Perry. "I like Perry, but he doesn't seem to be going anywhere; he's not surging forward."

A spokesman for Mr. Bush tells CBS News his expression of support for Mitt Romney should be viewed as an "unofficial" endorsement. The spokesman says Mr. Obama "expressed his preference" when asked by a reporter.

The spokesman says there will be no press release or press conference for the 87-year-old former president to announce an official endorsement.

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Lady Gaga is visiting the White House Tuesday to meet with officials in the office of public engagement "to talk about the important issue of bullying," a senior White House official tells CBS News.

The flamboyant singer will not have a chance to discuss the issue with the president, who will be speaking in Kansas this afternoon.

The president and the performer did cross paths at a California fundraiser earlier this year, where Lady Gaga thanked Mr. Obama for hosting an anti-bullying conference.

The White House, whose "stop bullying" website specifically spotlights cyberbullying and LGBT bullying, is expected to reveal more about Lady Gaga's visit later today.

The Obama administration and Australian officials are completing final details of a plan for an increased U.S. military presence "down under." Diplomatic sources say the formal announcement will come when President Obama visits Darwin next week.

U.S.officials declined comment on the timing of the announcement but National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor noted work, "was underway to develop options to align our respective force postures in ways that would benefit the national security of both countries." He said options discussed by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and their Australian counterparts remained "under consideration."

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First Lady Michelle Obama has played a major and at times humorous role on the final day of her husband's three-day bus tour through North Carolina and Virginia.

Joining the president at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton, Virginia, Mrs. Obama announced a new private sector commitment to hire 25,000 veterans and military spouses by the end of 2013. Improving the lives of the military is one of her causes.

Following the First Lady's introduction, the president went off-script as he commented on his wife. Looking out at a sea of military personnel in battle fatigues, Mr. Obama admitted, "I hate following Michelle. She's so good."

To the laughter of the service people he added, "See for you men out there who are not yet married, let me explain. The whole goal is to marry up--to try to improve your gene pool."

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Updated 12:56 p.m. ET

As President Obama's job creation proposal faces almost certain defeat in a first vote in the Senate tonight, the White House plans to challenge Republican AND Democratic opponents to explain their stands.

White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer told CBS Radio News, "that goes for every member of Congress who votes against the American Jobs Act. The question for them is this: If not this what? What is their proposal to create jobs now?"

In a bid to firm up support in his own party, Mr. Obama endorsed a plan by Senate Democratic leaders to fund the bill with 5.6 percent surtax on people who earn more than a million dollars a year. That idea replaced the president's original proposal to limit tax deductions for those earning more than $250,000 annually and halt government subsidies for oil and gas companies.

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Hours before receiving the nation's highest award for military valor, a humble Marine from Kentucky wonders, why he's being honored for "the worst day of my life." 23-year old Sergeant Dakota Meyer told CBS Radio News, "it's going to be a hard time" when President Obama presents the Medal of Honor at a White House ceremony.

Wounded and facing heavy Taliban fire in a remote Afghanistan battle zone in September of 2009, Meyer was credited with saving the lives of 13 Americans and 23 Afghan troops. The military account describes how Meyer killed at least eight attackers despite suffering a shrapnel wound as he fired from a gun turret.

He was also determined to recover the bodies of four other Americans who had been killed in the ambush.

Meyer and two other soldiers dodged heavy gun and grenade fire to retrieve the bodies. Meyer steadfastly rejects the title hero.

"If I was a hero I would have brought them out alive that day. That's a hero. I was just doing my job," he told CBS News.

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The White House is in "move beyond it" mode following Wednesday's dust-up with House Speaker John Boehner over the date of President Obama's speech to Congress next week.

"We want to focus on the big issues, not the small ones, not the side shows. I think most Americans are probably not paying attention to this. This in terms of the scheduling issue was a Washington thing," White House spokesman Jay Carney said in an interview with CBS Radio.

"We were happy once it became clear Wednesday was not an option. Our focus is on the speech," Carney said.

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