American Bridge

 U.S. Senate hopeful Shelley Berkley could have a winning issue on her hands by continuing to pound China over its currency manipulation, according to her advisers based on their polling.

A memo to Berkley from pollster Mark Mellman provides an answer to why the Las Vegas Democratic congresswoman has been all over the issue this week as a China bill is being debated in the Senate.

“The location of the announcement and emphasis on American manufacturing prompted critics to challenge Huntsman’s record at the Huntsman family business. Huntsman Corp., a chemical company, employs far more workers overseas than in the United States.

Huntsman’s campaign conceded that fact, but said the jobs plan would improve the business climate in this nation and help Huntsman Corp. and other businesses hire more American workers.

That did little to quiet Democratic criticism.

“It’s ironic that Huntsman is pushing ‘Made in America’ so hard when ‘Made in China’ has made him millions,” said Ty Matsdorf, spokesman for American Bridge, a political group allied with Democrats. “Desperately flailing to gain any type of traction in the race, apparently he will try anything to breathe some much needed life into a floundering campaign.”