At least eighty-eight new fair trade challenger candidates were elected during the past two election cycles. In sixty-nine of those races, incumbents supporting past unfair \u201cfree trade\u201d agreements either retired or were replaced by candidates running on a platform of fair trade reform.<\/strong><\/p>\n Seventy-five of eighty candidates endorsed by CTC PAC won their races in 2008<\/strong>, including sixty-five incumbents from both political parties who opposed the Peru Free Trade Agreement and cosponsored the TRADE Act. In addition, ten challengers picked up seats formerly held by anti-fair trade incumbents from New York to Oregon, and from North Carolina to New Mexico. In 2006, thirty-seven fair traders beat anti-fair trade incumbents, or took their open seats, in House and Senate races.<\/p>\n For analysis on trade in this election, and to see the ads discussed below you can check out the GTW database of 137 paid trade television ads<\/a> run by candidates for office in the 2008 election cycle or see their report, Fair Trade Gets an Upgrade<\/a> (PDF).<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s hard to find an issue where the votes have shifted so much, so fast, as on the trade issue\u201d said Yvette Pena Lopes, trade expert with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. \u201cVoters spoke loud and clear at the ballot box, on two consecutive elections, and they want trade reform.\u201d<\/p>\n For years, polling data has shown that NAFTA-style trade policies are opposed by a majority of voters across all demographics. This was especially true in battleground states, and among the swing voters that will determine the election outcomes.<\/p>\n These powerful polling results translated into a deluge of television ads on trade in 2008. In these paid spots, candidates promised to \u201coppose job killing trade deals like NAFTA and CAFTA, which cost our state jobs.\u201d Challengers also reminded voters when their opponent \u201csided with George Bush on trade policies to move our jobs overseas\u201d and if he \u201ccast the deciding vote on CAFTA\u201d.<\/p>\n In July of 2005, two hundred and fifteen congressional members voted against the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), which passed by only two votes. If any one supporter of CAFTA would have switched a vote, the result would have resulted in a tie, and the agreement would not have passed.<\/p>\n \u201cWinning candidates nationwide tapped into the widespread popular discontent voters have with past failed trade policies,\u201d said Eric Dirnbach, trade policy specialist with UNITE HERE. \u201cMembers who voted for job killing trade deals found out their jobs were in jeopardy as well.\u201d<\/p>\n Questions for 2008 Congressional Candidates<\/a> The Trade Issue in the 2008 Elections | Tracking Campaign Ads<\/a><\/p>\n Mood Shift Against Free Trade Puts Republicans on Defensive<\/a>\u00a0Wall Street Journal Why Obama shouldn’t cave on trade<\/a> FACTBOX: McCain, Obama plans on U.S. trade policy<\/a> Reuters, June 4, 2008 Obama, Clinton back Senate trade bill on China currency<\/a> Reuters, May 1, 2008 Clinton ready to walk away from NAFTA, adviser warns<\/a>\u00a0Globe and Mail, March 28, 2008 Harper meddling in U.S. primaries, Democrats say<\/a>\u00a0Globe and Mail, March 3, 2008 NAFTA’s triumph may be Clinton’s downfall<\/a>\u00a0Star-Ledger (Newark, NJ), February 27, 2008 Clinton Works to Hold Ohio Lead as Obama Attacks on Trade, Jobs<\/a>\u00a0Bloomberg, February 22, 2008 Obama criticizes Clinton on NAFTA<\/a>\u00a0United Press International, February 17, 2008 Impact of Trade Issue on the Election <\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Trade and Elections At least eighty-eight new fair trade challenger candidates were elected during the past two election cycles. In sixty-nine of those races, incumbents supporting past unfair \u201cfree trade\u201d […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":35,"menu_order":67,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\nDems’ Ads In Tight Races Tap Into Anti-Trade Sentiment<\/a>\u00a0National Journal Congress Daily
\nDemocrats campaign to keep jobs at home<\/a>\u00a0Reuters
\nTrade Reform Message Dominates Campaign Ads …<\/a>\u00a0Common Dreams
\nTrade Takes Center Stage in Campaign Ads<\/a>\u00a0Global Trade Watch — Eyes on Trade
\nFree Trade Agreements Could Ship Wisconsin Jobs Overseas<\/a>\u00a0WKBT, WI \u2013 November 3, 2008
\nFREE TRADE IS A TOUGH SELL<\/a>\u00a0Shipping Digest, New Jersey \u2013 Nov 2, 2008
\nAnalysis: Free trade in trouble<\/a>\u00a0The Journal of Commerce Online, NJ – Oct 29, 2008<\/p>\nNews:<\/h3>\n
\nWorker’s Reject McCain Overture<\/a> Financial Times, June 29, 2008
\nMichaud hits McCain on free trade stance<\/a> Bangor Daily News, June 21, 2008
\nMcCain stumps strategists by playing up his unpopular stance on free trade<\/a> Los Angeles Times, June 20, 2008
\nMore Stupidity on Trade<\/a> Jonathan Tasini, Working Life, June 16, 2008
\nHard bargains: Bilateral trade pacts draw domestic objections<\/a> Financial Times, June 16, 2008
\nObama to focus on bolstering Michigan’s future<\/a> Detroit News, June 15, 2008
\nKorea Experts Join Obama, McCain Camps<\/a> Chosun Ilbo, June 13, 2008
\nDemocrats to Focus on Trade to Win Working Class<\/a> Reuters, June 12, 2008<\/p>\n
\nObama, McCain Differ on Korea Policy<\/a> Korea Times, June 4, 2008
\nObama and McCain offer voters a choice on trade<\/a> Reuters, June 2, 2008
\nFree trade issue dropped as race finishes in Montana<\/a> Associated Press, June 1, 2008
\nObama’s Korea Trade Deal Objection Is Political, Minister Says<\/a> Bloomberg, May 26, 2008
\nNo evidence against PM’s aide in NAFTA leak: inquiry<\/a> Canwest News Service, May 23, 2008
\nFACTBOX-McCain and Obama plans on U.S. trade policy<\/a> Reuters, May 21, 2008
\nObama May Find It Hard To Govern as Free Trader<\/a> Wall Street Journal, May 19, 2008
\nWe need a new consensus on trade<\/a> David Sirota, Creators Syndicate, May 16, 2008<\/p>\n
\nSuper Delegates Might Tip Over Trade<\/a> Huffington Post, May 1, 2008
\nPushing the Dems on Trade<\/a> The Progressive, May 2008
\nU.S. “time out” from trade may have begun<\/a> Reuters, April 29, 2008
\nCandidates Court Trade Skeptics<\/a> Washington Post, April 29, 2008
\nMcCain to hit hard on free trade in hard-hit town<\/a> USA Today, April 22, 2008
\nSuperdelegates Leverage Uncommitted Status for All Its Worth<\/a> CQ, April 21, 2008
\nObama Questions Clinton on Free Trade<\/a> Associated Press, April 14, 2008
\nPenn Out As Clinton Senior Strategist<\/a>\u00a0Associated Press, April 7, 2008
\nObama, Clinton Promises May Undo Bill Clinton’s Trade Legacy<\/a>\u00a0Bloomberg, April 2, 2008<\/p>\n
\nNAFTA-gate probe to be made public<\/a>\u00a0Globe and Mail, March 27, 2008
\nLoose talk part of federal NAFTA leak probe<\/a>\u00a0Toronto Star, March 27, 2008
\nNAFTA foes hope Dems’ words turn into action<\/a>\u00a0Chicago Tribune, March 25, 2008
\nPresidential Candidates on Trade<\/a>\u00a0Center for International Policy (CIP), March 13, 2008
\nThe McCain Way: Forget Everything You Know<\/a>\u00a0ManufactureThis.Org, March 12, 2008
\nMcCain, Clinton and Obama on Trade: Digging Deeper<\/a>\u00a0Eyes on Trade, March 11, 2008
\nMcCain Scolds Obama, Clinton Over NAFTA<\/a>\u00a0Associated Press, March 11, 2008
\nPM’s top aide set off storm with Obama NAFTA leak<\/a>\u00a0Globe and Mail, March 5, 2008
\nClinton Pounces on Memo To Attack Obama on Nafta<\/a>\u00a0Wall Street Journal, March 4, 2008<\/p>\n
\nClinton Criticizes Obama Over Canadian-Nafta Memo<\/a>\u00a0Bloomberg, March 3, 2008
\nNAFTA has had its trade-offs for the U.S.<\/a>\u00a0LA Times, March 3, 2008
\nObama’s stance on NAFTA is disingenuous, Clinton indicates<\/a>\u00a0LA Times, March 3, 2008
\nObama, Clinton Promises May Undo Bill Clinton’s Trade Legacy<\/a>\u00a0Bloomberg, April 2, 2008
\nMcCain blasts Obama’s and Clinton’s attacks on NAFTA<\/a>\u00a0LA Times, February 29, 2008
\nBanging Obama For Making Sense on Trade<\/a>\u00a0The Nation, February 29, 2008
\nRocky Shoes sweatshop abuses shed light on failed trade model amid primary contest<\/a>\u00a0Sweatfree Communities, Ohio Conference on Fair Trade, UNITE-HERE, February 28, 2008
\nIn Ohio primary, campaign hinges on NAFTA<\/a>\u00a0Christian Science Monitor, February 28, 2008
\nClinton and Obama threat to end NAFTA alarms business<\/a>\u00a0Reuters, February 27, 2008<\/p>\n
\nQuestions the Democratic Presidential Candidates Need to Answer on Trade & Globalization<\/a>\u00a0Lori Wallach, Huffington Post, February 27, 2008
\nPresidential candidates focus on Ohio’s economic woes, trade<\/a>\u00a0Cleveland Plain Dealer, February 26, 2008
\nDemocrats Spar Over NAFTA In Ohio<\/a>\u00a0Associated Press, February 26, 2008
\nFact Check: Clinton, Obama and NAFTA<\/a>\u00a0Associated Press, February 26, 2008
\nClinton and Obama’s NAFTA showdown<\/a>\u00a0Salon.com, February 25, 2008
\nObama targets NAFTA but says supports free trade<\/a>\u00a0Reuters, February 25, 2008
\nObama, Clinton Wrangle Over Trade Before Ohio Contest<\/a>\u00a0Bloomberg, February 23, 2008
\nClinton Slams Obama Tactics<\/a>\u00a0New York Times, February 23, 2008
\nObama, Clinton promises on NAFTA hard to fulfill<\/a>\u00a0Reuters, February 22, 2008<\/p>\n
\nA Trade Transformation<\/a>\u00a0Creators Syndicate, February 22, 2008
\nCanada dismisses US campaign talk of NAFTA change<\/a>\u00a0Reuters, February 22, 2008
\nDecoding Candidates on Trade<\/a>\u00a0Wall Street Journal, February 21, 2008
\nThe Texas Ohio NAFTA two-step<\/a>\u00a0Salon.com, February 20, 2008
\nBarack Obama: I will repair our relationship with Mexico<\/a>\u00a0Dallas Morning News, February 20, 2008
\nWisconsin Put Trade on the Agenda<\/a>\u00a0The Nation, February 19, 2008
\nPrimary makes Clinton, Obama talk trade<\/a>\u00a0Capital Times, February 19, 2008
\nPress Release: Failed Trade Agenda Cooling on Chilly Primary Election Day<\/a>\u00a0Wisconsin Fair Trade Coalition, February 19, 2008
\nAmericans turning tepid on trade<\/a>\u00a0Washington Post, February 17, 2008<\/p>\n
\nObama Talks Tough(er) on Trade to Win Wisconsin<\/a>\u00a0The Nation, February 13, 2008<\/p>\n