In swing states, economic picture a little brighter for Obama

Chris Cillizza, Washington Post, 7/22/2012

Nationally, the economic picture is decidedly dismal — a sullen state of affairs that has led many political observers to conclude that President Obama is an underdog in his bid for a second term.

But in the 12 (or so) swing states — where Democrats and Republicans will spend the lion’s share of their time and money in the 100 or so days between now and Nov. 6 — the economic picture is considerably sunnier.

In seven of those 12 states — Iowa, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin — the unemployment rate is below the June national average of 8.2 percent. In some, it is considerably less than the national average; the June rates in New Hampshire, Iowa and Virginia were below 6 percent. Even in Ohio, a state hit hard by the collapse of the manufacturing sector, the unemployment rate is a full percentage point below the U.S. average.

In the four swing states where the unemployment rate is above the national average — Florida, Michigan, Nevada and North Carolina — the trend line is headed downward. Nevada’s June unemployment rate was an eye-popping 11.6 percent, but that was down from 13.8 percent in June 2011. Ditto Florida (10.7 percent in June 2011, 8.6 percent now), Michigan (10.6 percent in 2011, 8.6 percent now) and North Carolina (10.6 percent in 2011, 9.4 percent now).

full: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/in-swing-states-economic-picture-a-little-brighter-for-obama/2012/07/22/gJQA8Icq2W_story.html

That is why Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, having survived the recall, has strategized AVOIDING talking about job growth because...the WRONG president will get credit.

So can anyone cue the Stephanie Miller show theme song "Walking on Sunshine" yet? Well...the NY Times reported on Saturday that in June, unemployment rate rose in 27 states, fell in 11, and stayed same in 12: "California led the nation with a 38,300 jobs gained, with Ohio next with an increase of 18,400 jobs, the Labor Department reported on Friday in Washington." (California's governor is Jerry Brown, a Democrat; Ohio's is John Kasich, a Republican.)