CAFTA Viewed As A Proxy Fight For Free-Trade Deals In General; Central American pact won't have big impact, but Bush might lose.(A)

Byline: BRIAN MITCHELL

The White House has at least one prominent Democrat in its corner on the proposed trade deal with Central America: Jimmy Carter.

But Republicans might need the clout of a Bill Clinton to get the deal through Congress.

Usually trade-friendly Democrats in Congress are already lining up against the Central American Free Trade Agreement. And CAFTA's industry critics are determined to make a stand.

"We view the CAFTA as literally a matter of life or death for us," said Philip Hayes of the American Sugar Alliance.

"There are 21 other sugar-producing countries lined up like planes on the tarmac behind the CAFTA, and they're all demanding at least what Central America got," he said.

The fight begins today in the Senate Finance committee. It will spread to the House on Wednesday, when the Ways …