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Obama coaxes Democrats in U.S. House to support his trade agenda

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U.S. President Barack Obama speaks during a town hall meeting with Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative …

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Wednesday pushed reluctant members of his own Democratic party in the U.S. House of Representatives to support a Pacific trade deal he wants to finalize by the time he leaves office.

Obama did a series of television interviews with local anchors from Sacramento, San Diego, Seattle, El Paso and Dallas. These are media markets where most Democratic representatives have not yet said how they will vote on trade.

Obama is seeking "fast-track" powers to wrap up talks on the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal.