There needs to be some facts about NAFTA:

The Democrats have decided to criticize the North American Trade treaty, especially in declining industrial states during the primary campaign. But there are complex facts that come forth.

Exports to Mexico only account for $161 billion last year, only 1.1 percent of our economy.

Imports from Mexico have jumped five fold since 1993, but they amount only 1.7 percent of our $14 trillion economy.

Since NAFTA, the number jobs has jumped by 7 million between 1993-2007, and NAFTA accounts for 0.5 percent of the US economy.

We could reopen the treaty process, but Canada and Mexico will surely have demands as well. Canada's environmental regulations are stricter than ours, by the way.

McCain Wins NJ

Although the issue of illegal immigration is important among Republicans, GOP voters in New Jersey overwhelming picked an advocate of immigration reform in Senator John McCain. Republicans stressed both experience and change as twin themes they want in the White House. That combination is appropriate for a long time Republican who is often a maverick in his votes and behavior.

On Primaries and Immigration

The GOP primaries have witnessed a steady stream of anti-immigration and anti-immigrant rhetoric to court the nativists in rural Iowa and isolated New Hampshire. The Democrats capture now 57% of the Hispanic vote as compared to the Republicans’ 23%. The GOP has lost about 13 points since 2006. People, it seems, are listening to the debates on immigration and to the pre-convention politics.

Hispanic Disenchantment

The latest Pew Hispanic poll shows great disenchantment by Hispanics with the GOP. Under Karl Rove and his boss, Bush II, the Republicans fused anti-Castro sentiments and Christian fundamentalism to court Hispanics - especially, at first, in Florida. Bush genuinely tried to get immigration reform through Congress, but Republicans refused.