DES MOINES — There’s a strong possibility President Bush will gain Iowa’s electoral votes, a state Bush lost to Al Gore in the 2000, First Lady Laura Bush said Wednesday in a visit to Blank Children’s Hospital.

“I think we have a good chance,” Bush said. “It’s tough; the last race was close and divided.”

The stop was one of many to help promote Bush’s “Reach Out And Read” program, which encourages early literacy for children. Bush is also helping out her husband’s re-election campaign. Besides the Des Moines stop, the first lady visited Albuquerque, N.M. and Council Bluffs on Wednesday and plans on going to New Hampshire on Friday.

She said the stop was one of many future visits to Iowa for her, her husband and members of his campaign as they prepare for the election in November.

Pertaining to John Kerry’s Tuesday announcement of John Edwards as his running mate, Bush welcomed the new members into the race but said little more concerning his Democratic contenders. She said both the president and the vice president have commented on the announcement and congratulated Edwards on his new position.

“I think Bush and [Dick] Cheney share the values and character of most people in the U.S.,” she said. “As you might guess, I’m for President Bush.”

One topic Bush wasn’t afraid to comment on was the controversial film, “Fahrenheit 9/11.”

“Of course I didn’t see it,” she said. “I think it’s just propaganda.”

Earlier visits to libraries and schools around the country have found Bush promoting literacy among children. Her stop in Des Moines was no different. Bush read a children’s book, “I Love You Little One,” to 35 children involved in the Child Development Center and the “Reach Out and Read” program.

“It’s a message we’re all trying to get out, turn off the TV and read,” she said. “It’s important to take your kids to the library and check out books.”