October 22, 2004
REALITY CONSPIRES AGAINST KERRY:
Unemployment Drops in Battleground States (LEIGH STROPE, 10/22/04, Associated Press)
Unemployment declined last month in eight of 10 states that are hotly contested in the presidential race, including Ohio where job losses and a struggling economy have boosted Democrat John Kerry's election hopes.Posted by Orrin Judd at October 22, 2004 12:44 PMFriday's Labor Department report on regional and state employment in September was the last snapshot of the labor market before the election.
Ohio's unemployment rate declined to 6 percent in September from 6.3 percent the previous month. Employers' payrolls grew by 5,500, helping to send down the rate. But more jobseekers dropped out of the labor pool, too, contributing to the rate decline.
Among the closely contested states, unemployment rates declined last month in Pennsylvania, Florida, Minnesota, New Mexico, New Hampshire, Nevada and Colorado in addition to Ohio.
Jeez, all this blather about the terrible economy in Ohio, and last month the unemployment rate was 6.3%? Not great, but hardly a catastrophe. In Kerry's beloved Europe, that would be considered an economic miracle.
Posted by: PapayaSF at October 22, 2004 4:09 PMDrive around your average office park and look at all the new construction and think, "What recession?" Shoot, I took the long way into work today and saw 5 new office buildings going up.
Posted by: Governor Breck at October 22, 2004 4:51 PMProblem is, in PA at least, the fix is in.
Check Hugh Hewitt's blog today for details.
Posted by: Ken at October 22, 2004 6:54 PMYeah but perception is reality.
Posted by: M Ali Choudhury at October 23, 2004 6:26 AM