The apparent mixed signals are causing problems for some of Coleman’s constituents. Last week, a group called the Minnesota Fair Trade Coalition, which opposes CAFTA, bused in hundreds of people to protest outside Coleman’s office in St. Paul. But when the group’s state coordinator, Octavio Ruiz, learned of Coleman’s membership in the anti-CAFTA group, he wasn’t sure at first whether the group was protesting an ally or a foe. ...

In a March 30 "Dear Colleague" letter, Dorgan and Graham wrote, "We hope you will join our bipartisan ‘CAFTA Action Caucus’ -- which will head the opposition against a flawed and dangerous trade agreement." The letter says the agreement would "gut" the nation’s "successful sugar program."

But Coleman indicated that, by joining the group, he did not sign on to all of its objectives. "I don’t call it a caucus," Coleman said. "I support trade." Coleman had some harsh words for the activists outside his office. "They should protest," he said, "because I support trade, and they don’t, and I think they’re myopic."

"I’m a pro-trade guy," he continued. "I just have reservations. I want to see CAFTA passed. I want it to pass. But it’s got to be fixed."

According to a Coleman spokesman, when Dorgan invited Coleman to join the caucus he did not call it anti-CAFTA. "When we signed on, that’s not what it was called," he said. "The senator has not taken a position on whether or not he will vote for or against CAFTA."