Why Are Dems Talking About Trade Lately?

Why, in the last few weeks, have Democratic presidential candidates been intensifying their critique of America's failed trade policy? The forgotten poll result on page 8 of this CAF/Democracy Corps poll from December 2006 offers some clues. Specifically, the swing voters who considered voting Democratic but ended up voting GOP named support of unfair trade policies as their top doubt about continuing to vote Republican. Peeling these voters away from Republicans, therefore, has a lot to do with having a bold, populist message on trade.