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US Senate Democrats dealt President Barack Obama a stinging setback on trade today, blocking efforts to begin a full-blown debate on his initiatives.
The president's supporters said they will try again, possibly starting in the House. But they were unable to sugar-coat a solid rebuke of a major Obama priority by members of his own party, some of whom served with him in the Senate.
Only one Senate Democrat, Tom Carpe, voted for a Republican-drafted motion to start considering Obama's request for "fast track" trade authority.
Fast track would let the president present trade agreements that Congress could ratify or reject, but not amend.
Proponents needed 60 votes to thwart a Democratic filibuster, but managed only 52 in the 100-member Senate.
Today's vote highlighted the deep divide between Obama and the many congressional Democrats who say trade deals hurt US jobs. Leading the fight against fast track are labor unions and liberal groups, which are crucial to many Democrats' elections.
Most Republican lawmakers support free-trade agreements. They were in the strange position today of losing a vote but seeing the Democratic president take the blame.
