ROANOKE TIMES 

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

DATE: TUESDAY, November 16, 1993                   TAG: 9311160193
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: From The Baltimore Sun and The Washington Post
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Medium

CLOSE NAFTA VOTE PREDICTED

President Clinton engaged in fierce "hand-to-hand combat" with opponents of the North American Free Trade Agreement on Monday for the support of the few dozen lawmakers whose votes will decide the fate of the pact Wednesday.

As both Democratic and Republican members of Congress shuttled in and out of the White House for last-minute back-slapping and arm-twisting, Clinton's aides voiced increasing confidence.

"We're getting there," said Mark Gearan, White House communications director. "I think we are within striking distance."

"I see a horse race, a down-to-the-wire, hand-to-hand battle that will be decided during the vote," said Rep. Bill Richardson, D-N.M., who has been leading the NAFTA forces for the administration.

But opponents counterclaimed that they had the strength to block the agreement.

They also charged that Clinton was buying votes. "They've done a deal with everybody but working people," Rep. David Bonior, D-Mich., the House whip who heads the anti-NAFTA forces in Congress. "I think we are going to win."

The House will vote on whether to create the world's largest free-trade zone by eliminating barriers among the United States, Canada and Mexico over the next 15 years.

To shore up GOP support for the agreement, Clinton put in writing his promise to Republicans that he would object to any Democratic challenger's using a pro-NAFTA vote against a Republican member of Congress in next year's elections.

AFL-CIO President Lane Kirkland accused Clinton of "clearly abdicating his role" as leader of the Democratic Party for offering "comfort letters" to Republicans.

Ross Perot, lobbying against the agreement on Capitol Hill, accused the administration of using billions of dollars of taxpayers' money for pork barrel deals.

"The White House had the last supper last night, where billions of dollars were laid on the table, " he said, referring to a dinner held by Clinton for 40 wavering lawmakers. "Thirty pieces of silver were nothing compared to this."

The special deals that Clinton has struck to strengthen support for the trade pact include creation of a regional development bank, special protection for the small-appliance industry, and a sweetened deal for sugar producers and citrus growers.

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 by CNB