I agree with you that most presidents switch positions once in office, and I have no doubt that some of that will come into play with Obama should he win. How much this will happen, however, is open to debate. I actually think that Obama is willing to go against free trade to some degree, so it will prove interesting. I also agree that a recession tends to change things, so we will see. If the economy does improve within this year, we could see a different landscape next year.

Craig:

Thanks for clarifying. While I think Congress might hold Obama’s feet to the fire, I also don’t expect it to do so too much. I just can’t imagine a president going against free trade, even if it would be wildly popular. Obama has consulted economists about the gas-tax holiday, so he must have (hopefully) done so with this issue as well.

Thanks for picking up on my earlier post. While the other comment to the effect that every president since Herbert Hoover has been pro free trade once in office is historically accurate, I do sense that there has been a sea change in sentiment on this issue and that a Democrat controlled Congress might be able to hold Mr. Obama’s feet to the fire on this issue — or at least it may be an issue on which he would be less likely to use up valuable political capital fighting members of his own party on international trade while working on what he thinks are more important parts of his agenda.

Having said that, I also want to stress the point in my post to the effect that it was not a political endorsement of any candidate. There are many critical issues facing this country and many valid reasons on which to base one’s choice for president. International economic policy and relations, including free trade and immigration policy, is certainly among them, but not the only one.

Craig