
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, November 15, 1993                   TAG: 9311150061
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Cox News Service
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Medium

NAFTA VOTE CALLED TEST OF CLINTON'S LEADERSHIP

President Clinton had intended to be a domestic-issues leader. But this week he finds his political future riding on an international cause.

The North American Free Trade Agreement, which will survive or die by vote of the House on Wednesday, had been left behind by the Bush administration. Until recently, Clinton was too absorbed in budget and health issues to give it much mind.

As the showdown approaches, however, Clinton has embraced NAFTA with such zest that it has emerged as a major test of his leadership, both at home and abroad.

The huge stakes over NAFTA were evident anew Sunday when Vice President\ Al Gore said a defeat would be "really catastrophic" for Clinton's foreign\ policy agenda. Echoing his remarks on another interview show, Sen. Bill Bradley, D-N.J., said a loss on NAFTA "endangers this presidency."

On Sunday evening, the Clintons played host to about 15 undecided lawmakers.

Gore, appearing on CBS' "Face the Nation," said Clinton is to attend an Asian-Pacific trade summit in Seattle the day after the vote, and a defeat "would be a terrible thing to do to the president, to do to the country."

He said trading partners around the world are "waiting to see whether or not we have the courage of our convictions, whether we are willing to walk the walk, to talk the talk."

On the other side, House Majority Whip David Bonier, D-Mich., said on NBC's "Meet the Press" that NAFTA was "in the worst interests of working people" in the three nations, and would result in lower wages for U.S. workers and loss of 500,000 jobs to Mexico.

An Associated Press survey of the House found that foes of the trade deal have the upper hand. With opponents of the agreement needing 217 votes to prevail, 203 representatives said they would vote against the measure or were likely to do so. Arrayed against them were 180 legislators who said they would vote for the agreement or are likely to do so. That left 51 undecided lawmakers.

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by CNB