Battleground states tied to jobless rates

THE WASHINGTON TIMES ^ | April 4, 2004 | Donald Lambro

[neverdem]

Twelve of the 17 battleground states that likely will decide the outcome of the 2004 presidential campaign have unemployment rates below, in some cases well below, the national average, which could substantially improve President Bush's chances in a recovering, job-producing economy.

[neverdem]

It doesn't look bad, but what the people really need is an understanding of how economies really work, as opposed to all the nonsensical rhetoric from the rats. I still insist that I can dream.

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[goldstategop]

People do vote their pocketbooks and as the economy picks up steam, the President's approval ratings will go up in most of the battleground states. Of course, that is exactly what has the Democrats so concerned. Their candidate isn't politically viable unless there's a major catastrophe. Every day the Democrats are praying for a repeat of the Great Depression.

[GailA]

TN unemployment 4.9

NH unemployment 4.1

WI Unemployment is down to 5 percent from 5.8 percent a year ago

add your state's UE to the list.

[WhiteyAppleseed]

Only three big battleground states exceeded the current 5.7 percent national average: Michigan, 6.6 percent; Oregon, 7.1 percent; and Washington 6.1 percent.

Mr. Kerry would lose Democrat votes in Michigan , if Democrat voters, who own guns and use them (there are 750,000 deer hunters in Michigan) know where Mr. Kerry stands on gun control. I believe he voted to ban the center-fire cartridge. Did he? Or didn't he?

In my neck-of-the-woods, I know people who voted for Gore, though they are gun-owners, because they didn't know where Gore stood on guns.

Mr. Kerry took the time to vote yes on the assault weapon ban. President Bush said that he would sign it. No difference there. How do they differ on the gun control issue?

[HighWheeler]

I'm betting that the states with the highest jobless rates also have the higher tax rates.

[meenie]

It should come as no surprise that the more conservative states have the lower unemployment figures. Conservative philosophy dictates that the worker will make a more concerted effort to stay employed or self-employed. The hard-core gimmee states are what Kerry has to rely on for his chances. Coincidently, most contain large cities that control the vote in those states.

[Tennessean4Bush]

TN unemployment 4.9

TN is not and will not be in play for Kerry.

[GailA]

With the exception of Memphis..it's vote makes Shelby Co a dem vote county.

[GailA]

http://www.madison.com/wisconsinstatejournal/local/65597.php

U.S. Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, a hunter and Vietnam veteran, "would not support any kind of federal concealed-carry legislation and would oppose federal law that would impose a right-to-carry standard on any individual state," said David DiMartino, a spokesman in Washington, D.C.

Kerry has criticized rival presidential candidate and former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean for Dean's ties to gun groups. The National Rifle Association has endorsed Dean in the past. Vermont has no prohibition on carrying concealed weapons, although Dean signed a bill banning firearms on school grounds.

[Ciexyz]

In 2000, Most of the counties in PA were red -- except for the big cities of Philly and Pittsburgh.

[Go Gordon]

"Looking only at unemployment is not a fair assumption. Enrollment at our technical colleges has skyrocketed because they can't get jobs in their previous occupation and none of them are now counted as unemployed because they're in school and not looking for work," she said.

The amazing thing is that the RATs think this is a bad thing. For some bizarre reason, maybe mental illness, they think people that lost their job making trinkets, should sit around on unemployment waiting for another trinket company to start up, within a half hour's drive of their house, offering huge salaries and benefits out the wazoo.

Instead, some people have seen the hand writing on the wall, and decided to get re-trained so they can compete for a job in a sector that is hiring. I say good for them. Besides, don't most states require re-training as part of pro-longed unemployment benefits?

[GailA]

hanoi john on gun control

[Constitutional Patriot]

People need to be made aware that the current unemployment rate is the same as it was in 1996, when we were experiencing the "greatest economy in a generation" according to the New York Times.

Our president should be making a bigger point of the economic turnaround that has taken place under his leadership.

[aimhigh]

Oregon, 7.1 percent; and Washington 6.1 percent.

Oregon and Washington are responsible for their own high unemployment. They have among the highest minimum wages. Timber used to be the #1 industry in Oregon, but the liberals shutdown the logging.

[neverdem]

add your state's UE to the list.

I'd give my eyeteeth if NY could be an electoral battleground state. For the foreseeable future, it will only be a literal battleground attacked by Islamic terrorists because it's such a lucrative target and its decadence.

Is there a secret alliance between the far left and the extreme right as represented by Islamic extremists? It seems both want to destroy Western Civilization.

[neverdem]

How do they differ on the gun control issue?

Kerry has a voting record that infringes upon the Second Amendment since he started his career in public office, and he only recognizes that amendment with respect to hunting. Bush, as much of a disappointment that he has been, signed concealed carry legislation in Texas.

[FA14]

Lambro makes some great points. Many which obviously the media are ignoring....they definitely don't want to highlight (especially in these battleground States)....that Unemployment is very low (historically)...and much better then the national avg....

I don't very much GWB will carry Oregon or Michigan however (though, he doesn't need them in the end)....Staying competitive in MI would be great (Keeping Kerry money going into MI instead of FLA,PA,NH,CO, etc.....is great).

I look forward to seeing another poll out of MI at the end of April (lets hope GWB is still within in 3 or 4 pts).

MI is seeming to go the way of NJ.....becoming very liberal....

[Tennessean4Bush]

With the exception of Memphis

Thank goodness Memphis has 0 electoral votes

[newgeezer]

Yes, the unemployment rate here in IA is 4.1 percent. But, let's not allow the facts get in the way.

Just like 1992 -- "It's the economy, stupid." -- everyone knows someone who's unemployed. Heck, I personally know some people who've been looking for jobs for over a year. The Dems and the media (sorry to be so redundant) simply need to convince the moron swing voter that the economy's not as good as it could or should be.

We need a booming recovery the likes of which even Petah Jennings can't cover up with doubt and fear-mongering, one which finds everyone's friends and acquaintances fully employed. Otherwise, Dubya's toast. Then again, $2 gasoline is Kerry's best friend.

By the way, you should've heard this DUfus on Art Bell's show (oops, more redundancy) last night.