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The chances are better than ever. I thought trade would decline as
an issue after Edwards and Hunter dropped out of the race because
broader themes would dominate. I was wrong. Trade as an
issue is increasing in prominence.
Republican voters (though not elected Republicans) overwhelmingly believe
current trade policy has been bad for America. After finding 60%
of Republicans are skeptical on trade, the Republican pollster said,
last October:
"It's a lot harder to sell the free-trade message to Republicans,"
said Republican pollster Neil Newhouse, who conducts the Journal/NBC
poll with Democratic counterpart Peter Hart.
The economy has consistently been at the top of exit polls for both parties, for example in New Hampshire. Wisconsin voters said, last week, that trade has been bad for America.
McCain's
wacko free trade views have not changed. He is unreformed.
You can say he is solid or stupid, depending upon your views.
Obama and Clinton are competing in Ohio over who is likely to better fix trade policy.
On Saturday, Clinton charged Obama with sending out a mailer that
unfairly quoted her as saying that NAFTA had been a "boon" for America,
a word that Obama acknowledged Clinton had not used. But the senator
from Illinois kept up his attack on Sunday while speaking to dozens of
workers at a gypsum plant in Lorain, Ohio.
"Yesterday, Senator Clinton also said I'm wrong to point out that she
once supported NAFTA. But the fact is, she was saying great things
about NAFTA until she started running for president. A couple years
after it passed, she said NAFTA was a 'free and fair trade agreement'
and that it was 'proving its worth.' And in 2004, she said, 'I think,
on balance, NAFTA has been good for New York state and America.' "
Hillary was supportive of NAFTA and should admit it. She has a
right to change her views, indeed she voted against CAFTA and has good
things to say on trade now. McCain should alter his views, but
despite the Republican voter sea-change, the institutional support in
his party will clobber him if he deviates.
But the point is, its no longer good politics to be a free trader. You look dated... and out of touch.
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