COLUMBIA, S.C. - House Speaker David Wilkins will perform well as the new U.S. ambassador to Canada because he has the confidence of President Bush, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove predicted on Tuesday.

"Canada is our biggest trading partner. It is important to manage this relationship and it is important the ambassador be someone who has the ear of the president," Rove said during a telephone call to Wilkins' weekly show on South Carolina ETV.

Wilkins was confirmed to the post by the U.S. Senate last week.

During a special broadcast of "This Week in the House with Speaker David Wilkins," the speaker said he expects to be in Canada by the end of June. He will replace Paul Cellucci, who left the Canadian post earlier this year.

The show featured taped segments recorded by Wilkins' wife, Susan, political associates from both parties and Gov. Mark Sanford. They lauded Wilkins' sense of fairness and his willingness to seek compromise among House members on tough issues such as video poker or the debates over the Confederate flag.

Wilkins entered the House in 1981 and steadily rose through the ranks. He became speaker when the Republicans took over the House in 1994.

"I will forever cherish my days in the South Carolina House," Wilkins said at the end of the program.

Wilkins hasn't resigned as speaker yet, but he does expect the House to elect a replacement for him Thursday or on June 14 when the Legislature returns to Columbia for a two-day session to deal with Sanford's vetoes.

If the election is held on June 14, Wilkins said he won't be there. He'll be in the midst of a three-week training program to take his new post.

Three Republicans are vying to replace Wilkins: Ways and Means chairman Bobby Harrell of Charleston, Judiciary chairman Jim Harrison of Columbia and Speaker Pro Tem Doug Smith of Spartanburg.

On Tuesday, the House adopted rules for conducting the election.

Democrat Doug Jennings of Bennettsville has dropped out of the speaker's race.