<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/obama-escalates-feud-with-his-fellow-democrats-over-pacific-trade-deal-1429916341" class="">http://www.wsj.com/articles/obama-escalates-feud-with-his-fellow-democrats-over-pacific-trade-deal-1429916341</a><br class=""><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><h1 class="wsj-article-headline" itemprop="headline" style="margin: 0px 0px 4px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 40px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: 'Chronicle Display', serif; line-height: 1.2em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: 0px 0px;">Obama Escalates Feud With His Fellow Democrats Over Pacific Trade Deal</h1><h2 class="sub-head" itemprop="description" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 20px; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: 'Whitney SSm', sans-serif; line-height: 28px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); letter-spacing: -0.013em; background-position: 0px 0px;">President says liberals are mischaracterizing the agreement, threatening one of his key goals</h2><div class=""><br class=""></div></div><div class=""><div class="clearfix byline-wrap" style="margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; position: relative; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-position: 0px 0px;"><div class="byline" style="margin: 0px 150px 2px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: 'Whitney SSm', sans-serif; line-height: 2.2rem; position: relative; background-position: 0px 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; display: inline-block; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); background-position: 0px 0px;" class="">By</span> <div class=" author hasMenu" data-scrim="{"type":"author","header":"Siobhan Hughes","subhead":"The Wall Street Journal","list":[]}" itemscope="" itemprop="author" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; display: inline-block; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); position: relative; background-position: 0px 0px;"><span itemprop="name" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 600; vertical-align: baseline; text-transform: uppercase; background-position: 0px 0px;" class="">SIOBHAN HUGHES</span> and </div> <div class="mobile-scrim author hasMenu" data-scrim="{"type":"author","header":"Gerald F. Seib","subhead":"The Wall Street Journal","list":[{"type":"link","icon":"bio","url":"http://topics.wsj.com/person/A/biography/1512","text":"Biography"},{"type":"link","icon":"twitter","url":"http://twitter.com/GeraldFSeib","text":"@GeraldFSeib"},{"type":"link","icon":"email","url":"mailto:Jerry.Seib@wsj.com","text":"Jerry.Seib@wsj.com"}]}" itemscope="" itemprop="author" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; display: inline-block; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); position: relative; background-position: 0px 0px;"><span class="name" itemprop="name" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 1.4rem; font-weight: 600; vertical-align: baseline; text-transform: uppercase; color: rgb(0, 128, 195); background-position: 0px 0px;">GERALD F. SEIB</span></div></div><time class="timestamp" style="margin: 0px 0px 4px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: 'Whitney SSm', sans-serif; display: block; line-height: 2.2rem; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); background-position: 0px 0px;">April 24, 2015 6:59 p.m. ET</time><div class="comments-count-container" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; display: inline-block; position: absolute; top: 0px; right: 0px; background-position: 0px 0px;"><a class="comments_header" href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/obama-escalates-feud-with-his-fellow-democrats-over-pacific-trade-deal-1429916341#livefyre-comment" rel="nofollow" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: 'Whitney SSm', sans-serif; font-weight: 700; line-height: 2.2rem; position: relative; color: rgb(0, 0, 0) !important; text-decoration: none; outline: 0px; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span class="comments_count_icon" style="margin: 4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px 5px 0px 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAB4AAAAeCAYAAAA7MK6iAAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5ccllPAAAANVJREFUeNpiYBgFCKAAxAVAvB+I/5OI90P1KpBioQAQ95NhGS7cQKyl56loKQyfh5pNV0uRLccK+mloKc5gV6CDpTAMTnBMUIvz6ZhbEpA55+noY3BcM0It/k/nMoKRaaBKp1GL6W7xBjrauQHZ4o10tBjDrvv0ysPowIAOFhvgK85oZWkCoThwoHKw38fnU2x1cwEVyvB+nGUmkY4wwNNEwteuegDEhkD8gdpZg5j22Xpa5k1C6SKAlpbj8/17fI09aoEAqEV0DXJk36+nd5APbgAQYAABYTPksXhkbAAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==); background-size: 14px; float: left; height: 14px; width: 14px; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;"></span>130 COMMENTS</a></div></div><p style="margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: 'Chronicle SSm', serif; line-height: 28px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: 0px 0px;" class="">President <a href="http://topics.wsj.com/person/O/Barack-Obama/4328" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 128, 195); text-decoration: none; outline: 0px; background-position: 0px 0px;" class="">Barack Obama</a> escalated a public feud over international trade with the liberal wing of his own party, a brawl that threatens to undermine one of the key goals for the White House this year.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: 'Chronicle SSm', serif; line-height: 28px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: 0px 0px;" class="">The schism over trade widened with several testy exchanges this week between Mr. Obama and his liberal base, including <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/obama-defends-proposed-pacific-trade-deal-1429896668" target="_self" class="icon none" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-size: 30px; color: rgb(0, 128, 195); text-decoration: none; outline: 0px; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;">remarks Friday</a> in which the president said critics were mischaracterizing the deal.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: 'Chronicle SSm', serif; line-height: 28px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: 0px 0px;" class="">At the heart of the fight is the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal and the push in Congress to approve “fast track” legislation to expedite passage of the deal later this year. But the tussle touches on longstanding divisions over trade among Democrats.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: 'Chronicle SSm', serif; line-height: 28px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: 0px 0px;" class="">In an attempt to assuage critics, Mr. Obama said Friday that the Pacific deal wouldn’t repeat what he called the mistakes of earlier trade deals, particularly the 1994 North American Free Trade agreement between Mexico and Canada that was championed by President Bill Clinton and passed with more Republican than Democratic votes in Congress.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: 'Chronicle SSm', serif; line-height: 28px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: 0px 0px;" class="">“When I listen to critics of this deal—and they are friends of mine—what I primarily hear are criticisms of Nafta,” Mr. Obama said, promising that the Pacific pact “will end up being the most progressive trade agreement in our history.”</p><div data-layout="wrap" class=" media-object
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" style="margin: 3px 30px 23px 0px; padding: 5px 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 300px; position: relative; clear: both; z-index: 0; float: left; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div class="media-object-rich-text" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-position: 0px 0px;"><h4 style="margin: 0px 0px 8px; padding: 6px 0px 6px 1px; border-width: 1px 0px; border-top-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); outline: 0px; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: 'Whitney SSm', sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-transform: uppercase; background-position: 0px 0px;" class="">MORE COVERAGE</h4><p style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: 'Chronicle SSm', serif; line-height: 20px; background-position: 0px 0px;" class=""></p><ul class="articleList" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 18px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; clear: both; background-position: 0px 0px;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 6px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: url(data:image/png;base64,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); background-size: 6px; font-family: 'Chronicle SSm', sans-serif; line-height: 21px; max-width: 580px; background-position: 0% 7px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;" class=""><a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/trade-bill-clears-house-hurdle-as-gop-blocks-democratic-alternative-1429834954" target="_self" class="icon none" in_tag="ul" kaspersky_status="skipped" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-size: 30px; color: rgb(0, 128, 195); text-decoration: none; outline: 0px; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;">Trade Bill Clears House Hurdle as GOP Blocks Democratic Alternative</a></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 6px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: url(data:image/png;base64,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); background-size: 6px; font-family: 'Chronicle SSm', sans-serif; line-height: 21px; max-width: 580px; background-position: 0% 7px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;" class=""><a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2015/04/24/pacific-trade-pact-revives-ghosts-of-nafta-jobs-fight/" target="_self" class="icon none" in_tag="ul" kaspersky_status="skipped" checked_link="http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2015/04/24/pacific-trade-pact-revives-ghosts-of-nafta-jobs-fight/" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-size: 30px; color: rgb(0, 128, 195); text-decoration: none; outline: 0px; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;">Trade Pact Revives Ghosts of Nafta Jobs Fight</a></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 6px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: url(data:image/png;base64,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); background-size: 6px; font-family: 'Chronicle SSm', sans-serif; line-height: 21px; max-width: 580px; background-position: 0% 7px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;" class=""><a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-japan-trade-officials-say-substantial-progress-made-on-deal-1429560865" target="_self" class="icon none" in_tag="ul" kaspersky_status="skipped" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-size: 30px; color: rgb(0, 128, 195); text-decoration: none; outline: 0px; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;">U.S., Japan Trade Officials Say Substantial Progress Made on Deal</a></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 6px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: url(data:image/png;base64,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); background-size: 6px; font-family: 'Chronicle SSm', sans-serif; line-height: 21px; max-width: 580px; background-position: 0% 7px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;" class=""><a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/q-a-japans-abe-discusses-trade-deal-deflation-1429543309" target="_self" class="icon none" in_tag="ul" kaspersky_status="skipped" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-size: 30px; color: rgb(0, 128, 195); text-decoration: none; outline: 0px; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;">Q&A: Japan’s Abe Discusses Trade Deal, Deflation</a></li><li style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 15px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: url(data:image/png;base64,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); background-size: 6px; font-family: 'Chronicle SSm', sans-serif; line-height: 21px; max-width: 580px; background-position: 0% 7px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;" class=""><a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/abe-u-s-japan-close-to-tpp-trade-deal-1429536390?KEYWORDS=Shinzo%20Abe" target="_self" class="icon none" in_tag="ul" kaspersky_status="skipped" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-size: 30px; color: rgb(0, 128, 195); text-decoration: none; outline: 0px; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;">Abe: U.S., Japan Close to TPP Trade Deal</a></li></ul></div></div><p style="margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: 'Chronicle SSm', serif; line-height: 28px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: 0px 0px;" class="">The president’s struggles to win over traditional allies have been particularly vivid in his interactions with lawmakers from the Congressional Black Caucus, which numbers 42 Democrats in the House. As with many other Democrats, caucus members focus on the fear of job losses in their districts.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: 'Chronicle SSm', serif; line-height: 28px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: 0px 0px;" class="">“I’m with him on probably just about everything,” said Rep. Joyce Beatty (D., Ohio), who noted “a greater responsibility to my constituency” to explain why she was leaning against the president on trade.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: 'Chronicle SSm', serif; line-height: 28px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: 0px 0px;" class="">Nearly all top Democrats in the House and Senate, as well as a number of prominent liberals, such as Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, have expressed skepticism or outright opposition to the fast-track legislation in recent days. Many are also opposed to further opening trade with Pacific trade partners.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: 'Chronicle SSm', serif; line-height: 28px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: 0px 0px;" class="">Even Hillary Clinton, who promoted the Pacific deal during her four years as Mr. Obama’s secretary of state, now hasn’t taken a position on the pact, saying she wants to see the details of how it will protect jobs and advance American interests.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: 'Chronicle SSm', serif; line-height: 28px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: 0px 0px;" class="">Complex trade deals are traditionally negotiated in secret, with their voluminous details released only upon completion.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: 'Chronicle SSm', serif; line-height: 28px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: 0px 0px;" class="">Still, Ms. Warren and other Democratic critics have accused the administration of a lack of transparency in negotiating the Pacific pact with Japan, Australia, Chile, Vietnam and eight other countries. “The government doesn’t want you to read this massive new trade agreement,” Sen. Warren wrote in a letter Wednesday to supporters. “It’s top secret.”</p><div data-layout="inline" class=" media-object
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" style="margin: 22px 0px; padding: 5px 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 10px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 540px; position: relative; clear: both; z-index: 0; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div class="media-object-video" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-position: 0px 0px;"><div id="videoplayer0" class="video-container wsjVideoPlayer" data-src="5ED33F33-835C-481D-842C-862E0EAF2A0E" data-esplash="" data-msplash="" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px 0px 303.75px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); position: relative; cursor: pointer; height: 0px !important; background-position: 0px 0px;"><div id="thumbnail_videoplayer0" class="vidThumb" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: url(http://m.wsj.net/video/20150424/042415table1/042415table1_640x360.jpg); background-size: contain; cursor: pointer; height: 303.75px; width: 540px; position: absolute; z-index: 102; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;"><div class="videoHint_50 videoHint" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: url(http://video-api.wsj.com/api-video/player/v2/css/play_btn_50.png); background-attachment: scroll; background-color: transparent; bottom: 10px; height: 50px; left: 10px; position: absolute; text-indent: -9999px; width: 50px; overflow: hidden; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;"></div></div></div><div class="wsj-article-caption" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: 'Whitney SSm', sans-serif; line-height: 18px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); background-position: 0px 0px;">President Obama is going after lawmakers in his own party to push a trade deal with Pacific nations. WSJ economics editor Neil King explains. Photo:AP</div></div></div><p style="margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: 'Chronicle SSm', serif; line-height: 28px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: 0px 0px;" class="">Mr. Obama’s attacks on the liberal wing of the Democratic base have gotten increasingly pointed as he has sought to blunt the impact of the strong liberal pushback against the trade deal. The first shot came Tuesday, when Mr. Obama said in a MSNBC interview that critics on the left “don’t know what they’re talking about,” and labeled Ms. Warren as “wrong on this.”</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: 'Chronicle SSm', serif; line-height: 28px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: 0px 0px;" class="">The president escalated the battle on Thursday in remarks to Organizing for Action, a nonprofit that grew out of his presidential campaign organization, when he urged critics to “look at the facts—don’t just throw a bunch of stuff out there and see if it sticks.” </p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: 'Chronicle SSm', serif; line-height: 28px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: 0px 0px;" class="">He even compared liberal critics to former Alaska Republican Gov. <a href="http://topics.wsj.com/person/P/Sarah-Palin/4347" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 128, 195); text-decoration: none; outline: 0px; background-position: 0px 0px;" class="">Sarah Palin</a>, saying their opposition was similar to her assertion that his overhaul of the health-care industry would include “death panels.”</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: 'Chronicle SSm', serif; line-height: 28px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: 0px 0px;" class="">Progressives have taken umbrage, and say Mr. Obama’s argument would be stronger if he publicly released the negotiating text that will form the basis of the 12-nation trade deal. </p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: 'Chronicle SSm', serif; line-height: 28px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: 0px 0px;" class="">“American workers who have lost their jobs due to trade deals are understandably skeptical,” said Eric Hauser, communications director for the AFL-CIO, the labor federation that includes millions of workers, in a statement. “The best way to regain workers’ confidence is to release the text, not scold the critics,” he said.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: 'Chronicle SSm', serif; line-height: 28px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: 0px 0px;" class="">As Mr. Obama seeks to win over supporters for his trade agenda, the math looks particularly tight in the House. Lawmakers must first pass a fast-track bill, which would open the way for the Pacific deal by ensuring it would go to Congress for an up or down vote, without amendments.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: 'Chronicle SSm', serif; line-height: 28px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: 0px 0px;" class="">The Senate Finance Committee passed the fast-track bill this week with overwhelming support, paving a path to the floor as early as next week. The timing of a House floor vote was uncertain after the House Ways and Means Committee passed the same measure with the support of only two Democrats.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: 'Chronicle SSm', serif; line-height: 28px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: 0px 0px;" class="">To make up for what could be dozens of Republican No votes in the House, the administration may need to persuade 20 or more House Democrats to vote Yes. The White House hopes some of those votes will come from members of the black caucus. But the going has not been easy.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: 'Chronicle SSm', serif; line-height: 28px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: 0px 0px;" class="">Rep. Yvette Clarke of Brooklyn is a loyal Obama supporter, but she found she couldn’t say yes earlier this month when the president engaged in some personal lobbying.</p><div data-layout="inline" class=" media-object
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Yvette Clarke, shown at right in March, was lobbied this year by President Barack Obama to support the Pacific trade deal." title="New York Democratic Rep. Yvette Clarke, shown at right in March, was lobbied this year..." style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; display: block; position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; background-position: 0px 0px;" apple-inline="yes" id="F5344060-4759-431C-8EDA-93096DD48E39" height="499" width="749" apple-width="yes" apple-height="yes" src="cid:CFDC213C-8B69-4963-9D48-7E8FA254B74A" class=""><span class="image-enlarge" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: 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background-color: transparent; background-size: 50px; bottom: 10px; left: 12px; position: absolute; width: 50px; height: 50px; text-indent: -9999px; cursor: pointer; z-index: 999; background-position: 0px 0px;">ENLARGE</span></div><div class="wsj-article-caption" itemprop="caption" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 13px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: 'Whitney SSm', sans-serif; line-height: 18px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); background-position: 0px 0px;"><span class="wsj-article-caption-content" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-position: 0px 0px;">New York Democratic Rep. Yvette Clarke, shown at right in March, was lobbied this year by President Barack Obama to support the Pacific trade deal.</span> <span class="wsj-article-credit" itemprop="creator" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; text-transform: uppercase; background-position: 0px 0px;"><span class="wsj-article-credit-tag" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-position: 0px 0px;">PHOTO: </span>KENA BETANCUR/GETTY IMAGES</span></div></div></div><p style="margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: 'Chronicle SSm', serif; line-height: 28px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: 0px 0px;" class="">Traveling on Air Force One on a trip to Jamaica, the president sat down with Ms. Clarke and made the case that failure to pass the Pacific trade deal would erode U.S. leverage and give a leg up to China.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: 'Chronicle SSm', serif; line-height: 28px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: 0px 0px;" class="">Ms. Clarke promised to “go back and have a conversation with my constituents,” she said, recounting the conversation. But she isn’t optimistic: “The people in my district—they are radically against” the Pacific trade deal, Ms. Clarke said in an interview.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: 'Chronicle SSm', serif; line-height: 28px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: 0px 0px;" class="">Earlier this year, it seemed the caucus might be a productive target, even though it had opposed Mr. Obama several years ago when he won passage of pacts with South Korea, Colombia and Panama. After a meeting in February between Mr. Obama and the caucus, the group’s leading voice on trade, Rep. Charlie Rangel (D., N.Y.), emerged optimistic that an agreement that would satisfy both sides was within reach.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: 'Chronicle SSm', serif; line-height: 28px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: 0px 0px;" class="">“If they can make the trade bill look like a jobs bill, then there’s no problem,” Mr. Rangel said he told the president, predicting in a February interview that “somebody is going to be drinking champagne when this thing is over.” </p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: 'Chronicle SSm', serif; line-height: 28px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: 0px 0px;" class="">But by last week, Mr. Rangel sounded pessimistic about finding common ground with the Obama administration. He said the White House hadn’t offered him anything concrete that would assure jobs—at least “nothing that I could explain to my voters.”</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: 'Chronicle SSm', serif; line-height: 28px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: 0px 0px;" class="">Two-thirds of the House members in the caucus signed a letter to Mr. Obama complaining that any trade deal would need to do more to strengthen workers’ rights. And only Rep. Gregory Meeks (D., N.Y.) is on record in favor of the fast-track legislation, and Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D., Texas) is thought to be a swing vote.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: 'Chronicle SSm', serif; line-height: 28px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: 0px 0px;" class="">“There’s too much downward pressure on wages,” said Rep. David Scott (D., Ga.), a frequent ally of businesses who said he has made clear that the White House shouldn’t even bother trying to win his vote. </p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: 'Chronicle SSm', serif; line-height: 28px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: 0px 0px;" class="">On the call Friday, Mr. Obama said he was “not ideologically wedded to free trade for free trade’s sake.” Upon entering office, he said, “I was very clear about the need for us to change the way we do business” on trade matters. </p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: 'Chronicle SSm', serif; line-height: 28px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: 0px 0px;" class="">But of the Pacific agreement, he said, “I am confident that American workers will win.”</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: 'Chronicle SSm', serif; line-height: 28px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-position: 0px 0px;" class=""><span style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: 600; vertical-align: baseline; background-position: 0px 0px;" class="">Write to </span>Siobhan Hughes at <a href="mailto:siobhan.hughes@wsj.com" target="_blank" class=" icon" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-size: 30px; color: rgb(0, 128, 195); text-decoration: none; outline: 0px; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;">siobhan.hughes@wsj.com</a> and Gerald F. Seib at <a href="mailto:jerry.seib@wsj.com" target="_blank" class=" icon" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background-size: 30px; color: rgb(0, 128, 195); text-decoration: none; outline: 0px; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;">jerry.seib@wsj.com</a></p></div></body></html>