Bush Lauds Strength of Economy [View All]

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0904/171140.html

POPLAR BLUFF, MO. (AP) - President Bush (website - news - bio) told Missouri voters Monday that new unemployment figures suggest "the economy is strong and getting stronger" and sharply criticized Democratic rival John Kerry (website - news - bio) for taking "yet another new position" on Iraq.

Campaigning in Missouri on Labor Day, Bush cheered the dip last month in the nation's unemployment rate to 5.4 percent. The economy is rebounding, but unless 900,000 jobs are created in the next two months, the president will head into Election Day saddled with being the first president since Herbert Hoover to lose jobs under his watch.

"This economy, because of our tax relief and because we have great people in this country who refuse to be intimidated, who believe in the future, is strong and is getting stronger," Bush said at the rally in southeast Missouri that was dampened by a steady rain.

Yet, an estimated 8 million Americans remain out of work this Labor Day and the job market remains a political vulnerability for the president, especially in hard-hit states like Missouri.
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Damn, I'd hate to see it if he thought things were bad.