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Unemployment Rises All Across U.S. — Including Seven Crucial Swing States

Sep. 21, 2012 9:21pm Becket Adams

WASHINGTON (TheBlaze/AP) — Unemployment rates rose in more than half of U.S. states last month, the latest evidence that hiring remains tepid across the country.

The Labor Department said Friday that rates increased in 26 states. They fell in 12 states and were unchanged in the other 12.

Unemployment also rose in seven of the 11 key swing states in this year’s presidential election.

Nationwide, employers added only 96,000 jobs in August. That’s below July’s gain of 141,000 and the average of 226,000 jobs a month added in the January-March quarter.

The U.S. unemployment rate fell to 8.1 percent last month from 8.3 percent in July. But that was only because many people gave up looking for work. The government only counts people as unemployed if they are actively searching for jobs.

In August, unemployment increased in several competitive states in this year’s presidential race.

The rate in Michigan rose to 9.4 percent from 9 percent. The rate ticked up a tenth of a point to 12.1 percent in Nevada, which has the highest unemployment in the nation. GOP nominee Mitt Romney campaigned in Nevada on Friday.

Unemployment rates also rose in five other battleground states: Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, New Hampshire and Iowa.

Still, unemployment was flat in three closely contested states that are rich in electoral votes: Florida, Virginia and Ohio.

The rate in Florida held steady at 8.8 percent. Florida also recorded the second-highest job gain in the nation last month, adding 23,200 jobs.

Ohio’s rate stayed at 7.2 percent, and unemployment in Virginia was unchanged at 5.9 percent. Both rates also stayed well below the national average, as did the rates in Iowa (5.5 percent), New Hampshire (5.7 percent) and Wisconsin (7.5 percent).

Colorado was the only swing state to see a decline in unemployment in August. The rate fell to 8.2 percent from 8.3 percent in July.

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Front page photo courtesy the AP. This story has been updated.

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Comments (90)

SycamoreFan
Posted on September 22, 2012 at 12:04pm
Pelosi said Unemployment and Food Stamps create jobs.

Well we certainly have a lot of people unemployed, and we have a record number of people on Food Stamps. So WHERE ARE THE JOBS?

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- The-Monk
  Posted on September 22, 2012 at 12:58pm
  “The government only counts people as unemployed if they are actively searching for jobs.”
  
  So, how does the Government know if your looking for a job if you don’t have an account at a local Workforce Agency website and log on to it regularly?
  
  What happens to those who lost their Internet connection because they can’t afford it anymore or the gas the drive to the Agency to use their computers a few time a week?
  
  Report this comment
- The-Monk
  Posted on September 22, 2012 at 1:00pm
  It’s still my opinion that they only count those how are collecting unemployment checks.
  
  Report this comment
- The-Monk
  Posted on September 22, 2012 at 1:05pm
  Edit;
  
  who not how….
  
  Report this comment
- db321
  Posted on September 22, 2012 at 3:52pm
  If Unemployment goes up then that means that Obama’s Approval rating will go up as well. Don’t ask me how it happens, nobody can explain it. It just happens.
  
  Report this comment
- Inlightofthings
  Posted on September 23, 2012 at 8:56pm
  I think they view welfare as a government job sans benefits. Which makes me wonder, if you have no income and pay no taxes, how do you the Roberts Tax on the ACA?
  
  Report this comment
- Inlightofthings
  Posted on September 23, 2012 at 8:57pm
  I think they view welfare as a government job sans benefits. Which makes me wonder, if you have no real income and pay no taxes, how do you pay the Roberts Tax on the ACA?
  
  Report this comment
TheePolitinator
Posted on September 22, 2012 at 11:53am
But Odumbass told us it was going up.

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MiCurmudgeon
Posted on September 22, 2012 at 8:45am
Just say NO to BO !!!!!!!!!!!

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- Dont-hate-on-me-2
  Posted on September 22, 2012 at 10:56pm
  Body odor. lol .. Was the first thing I thought of.
  
  Report this comment
LeadNotFollow
Posted on September 22, 2012 at 2:11am
…
If Obama is voted out on November 6, the economy will start to improve on November 7.
I plan to go out and buy an obscene amount of Christmas gifts, to celebrated America’s deliverance from evil.

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- GETLIFE
  Posted on September 22, 2012 at 4:28am
  Your comment is emotionally powerful.
  Thinking about actually being able to joyfully celebrate something at the end of the year….
  What a great feeling.
  
  Report this comment
- Caulfieldgirl
  Posted on September 22, 2012 at 11:53am
  Leadnotfollow when I read your comment a smile came and then my heart started to dance. That was the best comment and gave me some hope. Thank you.
  
  Report this comment
- January24
  Posted on September 22, 2012 at 12:20pm
  I completely agree, Lead.
  
  Just the knowledge that a successful adult will take the reins in January from the total loser community organizer will give the whole country such a lift in mood that things will begin to improve even before Romney takes office.
  
  Report this comment
- KURT1010
  Posted on September 23, 2012 at 7:32am
  Sounds good , but he is still Prez till January….anything could happen , declare martial low, also Dec 21, 2012 things as we know it may or maybe not happen…hold on to you money , guns as stock up on supplies……..
  
  Report this comment
- Cavallo
  Posted on September 24, 2012 at 11:10am
  Not to throw a wet blanket on your party, but unfortunately no matter who is elected we are in real serious deep trouble. The Unemployment Rate will necessarily rise sharply as the economy improves because millions will start to look for work again. The fiscal cliff we are headed for with spending and taxes will be crippling, and the effects of hyper inflation after QE3 rape us, .. well.. I don’t think Romney can make it much better, but he can definitely help prevent it from getting far far worse.
  
  Report this comment
marcus_arealius
Posted on September 22, 2012 at 1:06am
Good, starvation, freezing to death, misery, slow death, total despair, Yup sounds like a demorat kind of life.. Why do you think most demorats are drug addicts in the closet? And fudge packers? Everything a demorat touches turns to … you fill in the blanks. Maybe there should be Cvil War II.
I’m ready, are you ?

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- Sirfoldallot
  Posted on September 22, 2012 at 1:37am
  Oh PS Hillary the wicked witch of the West Coast will be 2 old after 8 yrs 2 run.
  
  Report this comment
- January24
  Posted on September 22, 2012 at 12:23pm
  I would prefer to just vote the Democrats out.
  
  With Obama as commander-in-chief, it’s clear that he would try to use the military against any attempt to leave by states to leave the corrupt, failing federal government. Many troops would join the other side, but Obama would keep the big weapons.
  
  It’s better to migrate to conservative states and then pray that California falls into the ocean. That would help a lot.
  
  Report this comment
- jimmy777
  Posted on September 22, 2012 at 1:58pm
  yep
  
  Report this comment
Delores at CH WV
Posted on September 22, 2012 at 12:51am
The swing states deserve what they get if they vote for Obama! Of course, they are going to be very unhappy that there is not going to be any money for unemployment to help them because of these folks who have taken over 3 years of free stuff.

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- Sirfoldallot
  Posted on September 22, 2012 at 1:33am
  I think Obummer will lose by a land slide, his hope & change was a lie & the american ppl won’t go 4 his bumper sticker slogans again. 2 wrong don’t = a Right.
  
  Report this comment
Healthy1
Posted on September 22, 2012 at 12:21am
The states that have low unemployment are the ones with Republican governors! Yet, the people of those states somehow give the credit to Obama and will vote for him.

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KIOTI-TEXAS
Posted on September 21, 2012 at 11:22pm
Do you believe THE LABOR DEPARTMENT IS TELLING THE TRUTH..This is all lies the employment number are at 18%%%%%%%% MORE and they lowered the numbers from 8.3% down to 8.1%.JUST FOR HUSSEIN OBAMA’S REELCTION,, HE IS TELLING THEM WHAT TO SAY…AS LONG AS HE IS IN WASHINGTON, ANYTHING THAT IS GOVERMENT HE IS TELLING THEM WHAT TO DO…THEY ARE LING TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE…LIES ONLY LIES…

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- mwhaley
  Posted on September 22, 2012 at 12:10am
  Just wait. When Mitt is elected, over night we will see reports of the unemployment unexpectedly jumped to 28%. and the price of gas just unexpectedly jumped to $3.75 a gallon. Bunch of jack holes we call professional media.
  
  Report this comment
- Twit123
  Posted on September 22, 2012 at 11:37am
  The Labor Department are deceitful iin order to cover up Obama’s dismal failures. Labor Department manipulates the data on umemployment. Actually unemployment if property calculated will reach to 22%.
  
  Similarly the Democrats and its liberal supporters manipulates the polling results, in order to mislead the people. Don’t believe anything that Obama and his liberals cronies do. They are chanmpion of lies!
  
  Report this comment
Triple7
Posted on September 21, 2012 at 11:16pm
Huh? The economy is doing fine. Theres peace in the middle east. Obama in a landslide. Right? RIGHT?

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- johnpaulkuchtajr
  Posted on September 22, 2012 at 12:26am
  Don’t forget that we’ll soon be energy independent and free from the corrupting influences of foreign oil money, right?
  
  The President embraces the Keystone pipeline and imports from Saudi don’t grow the 20% they did in 2011.
  
  An aggressive drilling program is initiated on federal lands toward the goal of energy self-sufficiency.
  
  Oh crap! I just woke up! Damn.
  
  Report this comment
- Walkabout
  Posted on September 22, 2012 at 10:23am
  F/ck it! There is going to be a war. The Iranaians have already decided.
  
  Israel & Saudi Arabia will be on our side. Iraq which Obama gave away will be on the side of Iranians.
  Azerbaijan, The Kurds & the Sunnis of Anbar will be on our side.
  
  Look up: “Washington’s Iran war game vs. real Iranian, Israeli war preparations”
  
  On Debka.
  
  The build up has begun. This isn’t only about sending Iranian units into Syria to save Assad. This is a build up on the border of Israel. War is coming.
  
  Report this comment
Rational Man
Posted on September 21, 2012 at 11:07pm
Unemployment always rises in the fall and winter due to weather and fiscal year-end related layoffs. Normally I would say that is a bummer. But if overall unemployment stats rise the nearer we get to the election to make Obama look worse,….thats a good thing.

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capelady
Posted on September 21, 2012 at 10:50pm
Do you notice that most of the states whose unemployment rates are going up are Democrat or Democrat-leaning states? Most of the states that elected conservative Republican governors in 2010 are seeing reductions in their unemployment rates. It is called fiscal responsibility!!!

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- skimmer57
  Posted on September 22, 2012 at 9:08am
  caplady– You are wrong again! Please do a little research before you start typing things you don’t know! Seven states out of the top ten states with the highest unemployment have REPUBLICAN governors! Also nine out of the top ten states that pay the least in income taxes are republican states and all from the south. Seven states out of the top ten states that rely on Gov. money are also from the south! Go ahead and vote for bishop Mitt and watch the rich get richer and the poor die!
  
  Report this comment
- Livia
  Posted on September 22, 2012 at 12:14pm
  We have one of the sorriest governors out of the 50 states, and she is a demorat. Our unemployment rate is 9+% and it keeps going up. All this time, the demorat running for governor is telling us with a straight face that he understand why people don’t trust politicians. This state has been ruined by democrats and we desperately need to change that. We have a good man that is republican running for governor, and he is the one getting my vote.
  
  Report this comment
Chuck7884
Posted on September 21, 2012 at 10:31pm
Both Obama and Bush dumped a huge wad of cash on the heads of corporations I Have not seen a trickle of it.how’s trickle down economics working for you know.

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- pissantno.10
  Posted on September 21, 2012 at 10:38pm
  chucky boy worked fine for me, little clue it helps if ya have a job. yes i know thats not what you wanted to here. and your folks what pain telling you playing video games 24 hours a day is not considerd a job ( sucks to be you)
  
  Report this comment
- Chuck7884
  Posted on September 22, 2012 at 5:02am
  @pissantno.10,Worked for you huh? your either a professional student or Broker who fleeced America!
  
  damned.now go back to your little cave like a good little boy.
  
  Report this comment
- TheePolitinator
  Posted on September 22, 2012 at 11:58am
  Odumbasses brain has trickled
  
  Report this comment
Tri-ox
Posted on September 21, 2012 at 10:30pm
Enemy-obama is desperately trying to increase his 47% – by purposely destroying jobs and continuing to gut the U.S. economy – It’s all part of the plan.

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Jeanne2010
Posted on September 21, 2012 at 10:23pm
Impeach Obama now…start the march.

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- jumbles
  Posted on September 21, 2012 at 11:36pm
  Alright we’ll do it.Walk out of your front door in the morning completely naked with your underwear on your head,don’t feel embarrased we’ll all be doing it.See you tomorrow.
rja444
Posted on September 21, 2012 at 10:22pm
But yet people still think obama is the answer. You get what you vote for. Perhaps more people should ingage logic instead of emotion when it come to voting. Logic should tell you obama is all wrong for America.

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- JQCitizen
  Posted on September 21, 2012 at 10:32pm
  I don’t buy that many see Obama as the answer. I think a vocal minority do; – But I am of the opinion that there is a part of the 47% who are SICK OF IT; Especially those who have newly had to rely on something like food stamps, disability, etc.. If I was coming from being a productive citizen with a respectable job, and handling my life well, and was looking at a PERMANENT DOWNGRADE by President Downgrade, I’d be looking SERIOUSLY for a viable substitute about now.
  
  Report this comment
Larry E
Posted on September 21, 2012 at 10:21pm
Nothing to see here, all George Bush’s fault anyway, so just move along. Oh, and we’ll be needing LOTS more stimulus money and quantitative easing. Zimbabwe here we come.

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dealer@678
Posted on September 21, 2012 at 10:00pm
If Obama wins the unemployment rate in those states are gonna triple at least. You fools will get what you deserve

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- jumbles
  Posted on September 21, 2012 at 10:20pm
  If Obama wins it is because the American people voted him in and your prediction of hikes in unemployment is simple minded,unfounded speculation derived from a blinkered partisan and ignorant stance.
  
  Report this comment
- Wool-Free Vision
  Posted on September 21, 2012 at 10:37pm
  He’s ignorant? Hahaha! Typical dem, accusing the other guy of what they are guilty of themselves.
  
  Report this comment
- jumbles
  Posted on September 21, 2012 at 10:42pm
  I’m not a Democrat and your sweeping statement is another fine example of a blinkered partisan and ignorant bias.You turnip.
  
  Report this comment
- Larry E
  Posted on September 21, 2012 at 10:47pm
  Dear Jumbles, If Obama wins it is because the American voters are so stupid that they cannot see what he’s up to and the lamestream media is so in the bag for him that they refuse to write or say anything that might make him look the least bit bad. If you’re not a Demorat then you sure think and write like one.
  
  Report this comment
- jumbles
  Posted on September 21, 2012 at 11:13pm
  You have no idea how I think.Naming the main stream media as “lame stream” is very sheepish,a good reporter remains impartial and from your words I deduce that the reason you consider them lame is because they do not uphold and support your point of view.You have Glenn and Rush and the rest of your boys who tell you how to think and they share your agenda.I think you may be confusing “news” with propoganda.
  
  Report this comment
- WindyDualism
  Posted on September 22, 2012 at 9:25am
  Jumbles
  You just made his point. 95% of “media” seems to work for the dnc. I would then deduce you are a paulbot wanker with an inflated sense of self worth. Guessing clown shoes and plaid.
  
  Report this comment
Carefreeflyer
Posted on September 21, 2012 at 9:56pm
Change we don’t want or believe in.

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floridareader
Posted on September 21, 2012 at 9:36pm
And some zombie-like Obama lovers say that, yes, hum, the president’s policies have helped, hum, yes…

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- nowonuno
  Posted on September 23, 2012 at 2:05am
  We were in a recovery…until they realized that they were holding the unemployment line graph upside down. LOL
  
  Report this comment
Creativethinker
Posted on September 21, 2012 at 9:35pm
http://www.unskewedpolls.com

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- BODYBAG
  Posted on September 21, 2012 at 9:46pm
  Thanks for this very much. Also take a lookie here:
  
  Why The Polls Under State Romney Vote
  http://www.dickmorris.com/why-the-polls-under-state-romney-vote/
  
  Report this comment
- BODYBAG
  Posted on September 21, 2012 at 10:02pm
  Conservatives, GOP, Romney voters –
  Progressives with their Office Of Propaganda [nearly all media] are in overdrive trying
  to suppress the voter turnout by skewing and manipulating numbers, facts, topics.
  By painting the picture that Barry is winning and Romney is losing ground they figure
  they can DISCOURAGE you and make you give up [“whats the use”}.
  
  DONT FALL FOR IT. Romney ISNT losing. Its actually the OTHER WAY AROUND.
  And the progressives know it. Thats why they’re going berserk and their whole game
  is coming apart.
  
  They have NOTHING on MITT. Nothing. He’s actually a decent, patriotic and generous guy
  who tells the truth and they cant stand it.
  
  ROMNEY / RYAN 2012
  
  Report this comment
- jumbles
  Posted on September 21, 2012 at 10:31pm
  How do you know that he’s “decent..generous ..patriotic ..and tells the truth” how long have you known him? A truthful politician is a contradiction in terms.Wake up you chump.
  
  Report this comment
- WindyDualism
  Posted on September 22, 2012 at 12:27pm
  Vote jumbles. He is not assinine, doesn’t hold his opinion in high regard, and is decent to others he disagrees with. Jumbles for 4th party. Put on your clown shoes and vote Jumbles. Sound about right jumbles? Now about those clown college transcripts and tax returns…
  
  Report this comment
Chuck7884
Posted on September 21, 2012 at 9:34pm
Article states “The government only counts people as unemployed if they are actively searching for jobs”

It should have read Government counts people as employed after there unemployment compensation runs out and thus no longer reports job hunting to the government..

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pissantno.10
Posted on September 21, 2012 at 9:31pm
obama, right on schedule

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Caniac Steve
Posted on September 21, 2012 at 9:29pm
yes Mr. president & Congress..where are The Jobs ?

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- Exrepublisheep
  Posted on September 21, 2012 at 9:51pm
  Thanks for putting the blame where it belongs, and not just blaming 1 person.
  
  Report this comment
- RaydocX
  Posted on September 21, 2012 at 10:35pm
  @exsheep, want to blame employers? By hose that might afford to hire aren’t because tax rates will soon increase at the will of the president, and because roles over 50 mean uncial lusted increases in insurance costs, thanks to the president’s ‘answer’ to helthcare.
  
  That’s not all on this congress, who are only working to avoid throwing even more tax dollars away on ‘stimuli’ that don’t work!
  
  Report this comment
- Walkabout
  Posted on September 22, 2012 at 10:14am
  Exrepublisheep
  
  Thanks for putting the blame where it belongs, and not just blaming 1 person.
  ***
  I blame 1 party, the Democrats.
  
  Any bill the House passes the Senate will have to pass the senate & be able to override a presidential veto. That is a lot to overcome. Plus the Demoncats have most of the press as an advantage. As such the Democrats have the balance of power.
  
  “The media, I think, want Kerry to win. And I think they’re going to portray Kerry and Edwards – I’m talking about the establishment media, not Fox, but – they’re going to portray Kerry and Edwards as being young and dynamic and optimistic and all, there’s going to be this glow about them that some, is going to be worth, collectively, the two of them, that’s going to be worth maybe 15 points.”
  
  - Newsweek’s assistant managing editor Evan Thomas
  
  Report this comment
woodyee
Posted on September 21, 2012 at 9:29pm
Can’t BE!!!!

Why, just YESTERDAY, the Lame-stream press told us, on nearly EVERY channel, just how well, the economy is turning around, that the bad news has “finally bottomed out.”

Nah, Blaze, you got this wrong…(with tongue firmly planted in cheek!)

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dylan
Posted on September 21, 2012 at 9:28pm
What happened to their Savior the ‘One’ Black Jesus? Jobs is not a 3 letter word.

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- NO_MORE_OBAMA
  Posted on September 21, 2012 at 9:37pm
  The only 3 letter for jobs is GOP.
  
  Report this comment
- riseandshine
  Posted on September 21, 2012 at 11:07pm
  Both parties are far worse than worthless.
  
  Report this comment
- jumbles
  Posted on September 21, 2012 at 11:29pm
  The only 3 letter word for jobs is GOP as long as you live in China.
  
  Report this comment

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