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WASHINGTON: As they battle for blue-collar votes in Pennsylvania, Democrats Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are jostling to prove who is the toughest on free trade deals that unions blame for thousands of lost jobs.
The Democratic-led House of Representatives delayed a vote on a new free trade agreement with Colombia Thursday, putting the issue on the back burner probably until after November's general election.
Among the presidential hopefuls, only Republican John McCain backed the Colombia deal. Clinton and Obama, who face off April 22 in a primary in Pennsylvania -- a state with strong trade union traditions -- are strongly opposed.
But Clinton was forced on the defensive this week after a row involving her top strategist, Mark Penn. He quit Sunday after it emerged that, in his capacity as a lobbyist, he met with Colombian diplomats who backed a trade deal with the United States.
The New York senator is already vulnerable on the issue as her husband, former president Bill Clinton, supports the Colombia deal.
But campaign spokesman Jay Carsons said: "Like other married couples who disagree on issues from time to time, she disagrees with her husband on this issue."
Speaking Tuesday at a Washington meeting of the Communication Workers of America union, Clinton insisted her position was clear.
"As I have said for months, I oppose the deal. I have spoken out against the deal, I will vote against the deal, and I will do everything I can to urge the Congress to reject the Colombia Free Trade Agreement," she said.
Obama has also reiterated his opposition to the deal, arguing that Bogota does not respect basic trade union rights. Thursday's delay in the House now means neither he nor Clinton are likely to have to vote on the issue before November.
But the Colombia agreement is not the only free trade deal causing waves in the Democratic camp.
Both White House hopefuls have also promised to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) if they become president, focusing particularly on the clauses concerning working conditions and the environment.
Enacted under Bill Clinton in 1994, NAFTA created the largest trading bloc in the world by eliminating import tariffs on goods circulating among partners Canada, the United States and Mexico.
However, unions claim it has caused the loss of millions of US jobs, hitting workers who are also now struggling with an economic slowdown.
Clinton and Obama's positions have rankled Canada, which has warned renegotiating NAFTA would have a negative effect on the US economy. It also noted the deal guarantees the United States preferential access to Canadian oil.
The Quebecois daily Le Devoir asked recently whether Canada "should fear the election of a Democratic president" in Washington.
The issue also appears to be causing concern behind the scenes in both camps.
In an interview with Canada's Globe & Mail, Clinton economic advisor Gene Sperling said the former first lady was intent on renegotiating NAFTA but did not want to cause damage to Mexico or Canada.
And in February, the Canadian CTV channel reported that Obama aide Austan Goosbee had reassured Ottawa that it should not take the Illinois senator's comments on NAFTA out of context, saying they were largely politically motivated.
However, Obama rejected the report, and insisted he would abide by his promise to renegotiate NAFTA if he becomes president. - AFP/ac
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