In fact, several Hispanic legislators who had for several years boycotted the annual meeting of the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus in Albany attended the conference last month, saying they felt it was time to rebuild old alliances.

John spent much of the next decade attempting to regain these lands, raising huge revenues, reforming his armed forces and rebuilding continental alliances.

But there also was much discussion about how Mr. Dinkins's endorsement might affect efforts to rebuild alliances between black and Hispanic legislators.

In the second hour, the candidates sat down and took questions from voters, many of which centered on foreign affairs, from undertaking military action in Iran to rebuilding alliances with Pakistan to intervening on the violence in Sudan.

The best route for Britain to protect our national interest requires two immediate steps - first, to rebuild alliances and, second, to get a seat at the table.

The senator also recalled Mr. Bush's father's reluctance to invade Baghdad in the first gulf war and praised John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan for rebuilding alliances abroad.

Representative Richard A. Gephardt of Missouri, striking at what all the candidates believe is a central flaw of Bush foreign policy, would focus on rebuilding fractured alliances.

Rebuilding alliances and engaging with awkward opponents is something that would benefit the whole world, not just America.

Mr. Kerry said he would "wage a more effective war on terror" than Mr. Bush by rebuilding global alliances.

Presenting himself as a presidential candidate "who can speak directly to the world," Senator Barack Obama on Monday outlined his approach to foreign policy, vowing to double foreign aid, expand and modernize the military, and rebuild fractured alliances.