O’Malley criticizes trade deal in Iowa stop

NEWTON - Martin O'Malley does not think much of the multi-nation trade deal announced this week.

The presidential candidate and former Maryland governor is making a point to remind Iowa Democrats that he announced his opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership eight months ago, clearly drawing a contrast between himself and Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton, who announced her opposition earlier this week.

'I didn't come out opposed to the Trans-Pacific Partnership just on the eve of the (first Democratic) debate, and I didn't do it because the polling told me to do it. I did it eight months ago,” O'Malley said. 'I know the difference between principle and my principles and the principles of our country and polling. Weather vanes kind of shift in the wind. I know where I stand, and I was against the Trans-Pacific Partnership eight months ago.”

O'Malley is in the midst of his latest campaign swing through Iowa. On Friday afternoon, he hosted a town hall discussion on trade policy with members of the UAW Local 997 here.

Later, during taping of Iowa Public Television's 'Iowa Press,” O'Malley talked about preparation for the first Democratic candidates' debate Tuesday in Las Vegas. He sees it as his opportunity to make a first impression even though he's been campaigning for about 100 days.

'This may look like the final two minutes of the game, but I think this is actually the opening kickoff,” O'Malley said. By this time eight years ago, there had been nine Democratic debates 'so everyone had a sense of who the candidates were. With the rather arrested development, it has meant a later start to our season.”

At the town hall, O'Malley pinned part of the U.S.'s sluggish economy on a previous trade deal, NAFTA, which was signed in 1994.

'We were promised in NAFTA that we'd get all sorts of great benefits … and we'd be net winners in this,” O'Malley said, adding that has not been the case by pointing to the U.S.'s trade deficit with Mexico.

O'Malley on Friday announced his trade policy, which includes rejecting secret trade agreements negotiated 'behind closed doors,” prohibiting currency manipulation and holding violators accountable, lifting labor standards, and providing strong financial and environmental regulations.

'I believe good trade deals for the U.S. are rare, trade deals that actually raise standards for workers and raise standards for the environment,” O'Malley said.

O'Malley has been well-received by Iowa Democrats during his many visits to the first-in-the-nation caucus state. But he continues to struggle in the polls, falling in the low single digits, well behind leaders Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders.

He attributes Sanders' success to the fact that voters in both parties have 'gravitated to those candidates who most firmly repudiated the establishment.

'In the Republican Party, that candidate was Donald Trump. In our party, it has been Bernie Sanders,” O'Malley said.

However, he's been to 40 counties and raised his name recognition 'up north of 40 percent from zero,” he said.

'People say I'm glad I have an alternative,” he said. 'That tells me people are shopping. People are looking for a new leader.

'Neither party ever nominates angry,” he added.

Iowa Press can be seen at 8:30 a.m. Saturday on IPTV World, noon Sunday on IPTV and online at www.IPTV.org.