Brushing off Clinton's critique, Obama presses ahead on TPP

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama brushed off opposition from Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump to a free-trade agreement with Asia on Tuesday, vowing to try to force the Trans-Pacific Partnership through Congress before either of them can take office.

Though Democratic leaders in Congress and both parties' presidential nominees say it's a bad deal that shouldn't move forward, Obama showed no signs of entertaining their concerns.

In a clear reference to Clinton, the president's preferred successor, Obama said he respects those who warn the deal undercuts U.S. workers and their wages.

Speaking at a news conference with the prime minister of Singapore — one of 12 countries in TPP — Obama confirmed what most in Washington had long suspected: that he's given up on getting the deal passed during the harried campaign season but is holding out hope for a vote in the lame-duck period between Election Day and the next president's inauguration.

"Hopefully, after the election is over and the dust settled, there will be more attention to the actual facts behind the deal and it won't just be a political symbol or a political football," Obama said.