Obama Enters 2012 Race With Good News About Jobs

Obama Enters 2012 Race With Good News About Jobs

Most of the news in Washington this week was about the budget talks to prevent a shutdown of many government services at midnight Friday. But thisweek, President Obama also announced his plans to seek re-election in November of next year.
In an email to supporters, Mr. Obama said "the race may not reach full speed for a year or more." But hesaid the work of building the campaign "must start today." Some of that work will depend on how many jobs are created in the months ahead. Mr. Obama welcomed last Friday's economic report that theUnited States economy added two hundred sixteen thousand (216,000) jobs in March. The unemployment rate dropped one-tenth (1/10) of one percent for the second straight month. The report also saysunemployment is now 8.8 percent, the lowest in two years. And some economists say this spring may be the start of better news to come. Consumer spending has increased eight months in a row.
Stephen Hessis a political scientist who studies the presidency at the Brookings Institution in Washington. He said, "The next election will, more than anything else, depend on employment in the United States."Labor Secretary Hilda Solis called attention to the fact that the economy has added jobs for twelve months in a row: "We need to be reminded that we've added jobs -- 1.5 million private sector jobs, andthat, I think, it’s right where we need to be. But we need to continue to not lose sight of where we need to go to increase opportunities for people to get employed in new jobs."
This week,President Obama filled a top job in his party. He chose Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida to head the Democratic National Committee. She replaces Tim Kaine who plans to run for the Senatefrom Virginia next year. Among Republicans, former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty recently formed a committee to explore a presidential campaign. Several other Republicans are also considering races...