Obama’s trade problem

President Obama is going to have a difficult time convincing members of his own party to back new trade powers for his administration, according to a House Democrat.

“I look forward to the president making his case in the weeks ahead, but I think he’s got an uphill case to make,” Democratic Rep. Joe Kennedy (Mass.) told The Hill in a video interview.

{mosads}Dozens of Democrats worry that giving away Congress’s right to amend trade deals could threaten scores of regulations and hurt American workers.

Congressional Republicans, who largely favor granting trade promotion authority (TPA), say they will need help from Obama to win over Democrats.

GOP Rep. Dave Reichert (Wash.) said he wants to meet with the White House to hash out a strategy for rounding up votes.

Watch the video to hear more from lawmakers about the brewing battle.