His overall record is pro-free trade, so he can always try and pull a Kerry (nuance stuff) where he is pro-free trade but with something to show he isn't totally free trade.
Personally, its not smart politics, and makes him look like a flip flop without convictions.
"Allen is going to use it, if need be, in Virginia"
No Allen will obliterate whatever road-kill the Democrats send up against him in 2006, and Virginia is not really a protectionist state, so being somewhat anti-free trade wouldn't help Allen much in his Senate race even if he had a strong opponent.