By David Espo, Associated Press, 5/23/2000 19:35

WASHINGTON (AP) Democratic leaders struggled Tuesday to contain the political damage from a split over China trade legislation, including one labor leader's suggestion that Ralph Nader would be preferable to Vice President Al Gore in the race for the White House.

By supporting the China bill, Gore is siding with ''multinational corporations against workers here and abroad,'' United Auto Workers President Stephen Yokich said on the eve of a hard-fought vote in the House on granting permanent normalized trade relations with China.

''It's time to forget about party labels and instead focus on supporting candidates, such as (Green Party candidate) Ralph Nader, who will take a stand based on what is right, not what big money dictates,'' Yokich said.

Campaigning in Pennsylvania, Gore turned aside a question on the statement from a union leader whose membership is concentrated in key electoral states. ''You're talking about hypotheticals that I'm not going to entertain ... I don't like to answer iffy questions,'' Gore said.

Beneath Gore's noncommittal response, though, congressional sources said the vice president's campaign had sought to squelch Yokich's statement before it was released.

Campaign chairman Tony Coelho contacted House Democratic Leader Dick Gephardt, D-Mo., and urged him to call Yokich, according to these sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The House Democratic Whip, Rep. David Bonior of Michigan, also was enlisted in the effort. Yokich and Bonior spoke, according to several sources who refused to be named, but the union leader was unmoved.

Apart from presidential politics, there was evidence the China bill was complicating the Democratic drive to regain the House. Black lawmakers had an occasionally contentious meeting with AFL-CIO President John Sweeney last week, and top Democrats successfully urged President Clinton to scrap a planned television address raising the awkward prospect of Gephardt delivering a response in opposition.

''It is very difficult for me to understand why, at this time and this place, the unions have decided to make this a litmus test,'' said Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., a supporter of the bill. He called the unions' pressure tactics ''very threatening.''

''I hope not. I hope we're not being hard on anybody,'' said Sweeney. But, he warned, ''I think this is a really important vote in terms of how working people will view candidates.''

The legislation would give China permanent normal trade relations and end the current system of annual reviews. Debate began Tuesday on the House floor, with a vote on Wednesday.

Clinton, Gore and other supporters of the measure say it would open Chinese markets to American investment and benefit United States security interests, as well.

Democratic constituencies in organized labor and environmental groups oppose the bill, however. In the House, Bonior is leading the opposition, while Gephardt has maintained low-key opposition out of a desire to prevent fractures within the caucus. Opponents generally claim the bill would cause job losses and throw away any leverage Washington has to rein in Chinese human rights abuses.

As both sides continued lobbying furiously, presumptive GOP presidential nominee George W. Bush met with House Republicans near the Capitol and urged them to support the bill, as he does.

Meanwhile, frustrations flared last week at a meeting of members of the Congressional Black Caucus and Sweeney, several Democrats said.

Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., the caucus chairman, said lawmakers asked whether ''there's a double standard for white members and black members,'' and whether organized labor was insisting on 100 percent support from some and letting others go with only 50 percent support.

Clyburn said Rep. Bill Clay, D-Mo., presented figures indicating that the Communications Workers of America had made $1.6 million in campaign contributions in the current election cycle, and only $31,000 had gone to black lawmakers.

Organized labor is a key Democratic constituency, and has worked closely with Gephardt in his efforts to win back the House. The AFL-CIO endorsed Gore early in the primary season, and helped him organize two critical early states, Iowa and New Hampshire.

The UAW declined to choose between Gore and Democratic rival Bill Bradley, but has yet to endorse Gore's candidacy. The Teamsters also has not endorsed Gore and, last month, Bush said he asked Teamsters President James Hoffa for the union's endorsement.

The UAW has approximately 450,000 active and retired workers in Michigan, a key battleground state, as well as more than 150,000 in Ohio, another key state.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Associated Press writer Alice Ann Love contributed to this report.