Text imported from PDF has spacing that I cannot undo

I imported the below text from a PDF file.   The text is in text format, however the spacing between "MILS" and "TRACE WIDTH" cannot be changed.

• The EDIT TEXT window doesn't show the reason for the spaces.
• Justification doesn't change it
• "Objects/ Clear Transforms" is ineffective.

The only way I can change the spacing is to basically retype it.   Actually I can use the "manual kern" tool but in my mind that is just adding another transform on top of the one that is there.

Is there a way to "reset" a bit of text?

Thanks

Jon