"Conducted jointly by Republican pollster Whit Ayres and Democrat Mark Mellman, the results of the AAM survey are astounding.  It shows that across all party, geographic and demographic lines, Americans still believe in manufacturing despite its decade long decline, and associate it with a sound economy and a secure nation. "Given a choice of eight industries, respondents were asked which was most important to our economy.  Sixty-two percent of Republicans and 63% of Independents ranked manufacturing higher than “finance/banking” and “healthcare.” "In choosing which industry matters most to national security, manufacturing earned a plurality from Republicans (43%), Independents (40%) – higher than Democrats (38%). "Most surprising were results from participants who self-identified as active in the Tea Party movement or supporting it. "At 71%, the number of Tea Party supporters who had a favorable view of American manufacturing was higher than Democrats’.  Asked if they would back a national strategy using tax, labor and trade policies to support manufacturing, more than seventy percent of Independents, Republicans and Tea Partiers said “yes.”"

"Calls for a liberal-style national manufacturing “policy” has long given free market Republicans justifiable fits.  But smart American manufacturing policies have existed since Alexander Hamilton, whose successful arguments for a domestic merchant fleet rather than reliance on France sowed the seed for today’s robust Merchant Marine and Coast Guard. "Even Ronald Reagan saw value in defending Harley Davidson and American semi-conductor businesses against market distorting practices by some U.S. competitors."