Obama seeks to woo Democrats to support his trade and export agenda

President Barack Obama is stepping up his campaign to expand exports and negotiate new trade deals in Asia and Europe, a rare spot of common ground with Republicans and a raw point of friction with Democrats.

Obama on Thursday pushed his trade themes in interviews with television stations from states represented by the handful of Democratic senators who may be willing to side with the president on his plans for new commerce agreements.

Obama wants authority to negotiate trade agreements that Congress can only approve or reject but not amend.

The Obama administration on Thursday released data promoting the role of exports in the economic recovery. According to the White House, exports supported about 11.3 million jobs in 2013, an increase of 1.6 million over 2009.