Conway, South Carolina (CNN) - Friday's announcement that the unemployment rate had dropped to 8.5% did little to deter Mitt Romney from savaging President Barack Obama's handling of the economy.
"This president doesn't understand how the economy works," Romney announced at a campaign rally in South Carolina, just after the new numbers were released. "It's time to get a president who does."
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The economy added 200,000 jobs in the month, the Labor Department reported Friday, doubling the number of jobs added in November.
The 8.5% unemployment rate is now the lowest it's been since February 2009.
Romney made no mention of the new jobs numbers, but said Obama has failed to live up to the promises he made during the early days of his administration.
"He has failed to put American back to work," Romney said. "Remember it was early in his administration, he said, 'Look if you let me borrow $787 billion, why I will be able to keep unemployment from going above 8%. Well, it went past 8%, and it hasn't been back since, three years later."
Romney, taking a break from the New Hampshire primary race, was appearing at the second of two rallies in South Carolina with Gov. Nikki Haley and Sen. John McCain, both of whom endorsed Romney.
The trio also campaigned in Charleston on Thursday.
As he eyes a win in the Jan. 21 primary, Romney is focusing much of his efforts on the South Carolina coast, where social issues like abortion and same-sex marriage are less important to Republicans than fiscal and military ones.
McCain, who won the South Carolina primary in 2008 on his way to the GOP nomination, predicted that Romney will win New Hampshire and then lock up the nomination here.
"He's going to win in New Hampshire and it's going to come down, my friends, as it always does, to South Carolina," McCain said. "If Mitt Romney wins here, he will be the next President of the United States."
From CNN Politics
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Obama/Biden 2012
HA HA HA!!! "if romney wins in caroline he will be the next president of the US" it sounds like mccain is living through romney's campaign. first of all romeny is not going to EVER be the president of United States, nobody likes him come on mccain stop trippingLOL
"This president doesn't understand how the economy works,"
Of course he does! And he knows how to destroy it and incur more debt. What better way to implement more of the Marxixt agenda.
Romney sounds more & more like a broken record....he repeats the same drivel no matter what the reality is. As a left leaning independent I honestly thought he had more to offer but he has nothing! He is a fake and a professional campaigner. Since I live in Florida we're now being flooded with his ads and every time I see the one where he says he's a steady person, been married to same wife, etc it just makes me laugh because he says nothing that is different than President Obama. President Obama has nothing to worry about in 2012!
I kinda figured the GOP and Mitty would do one of two things....of course BOTH include not giving Obama any credit. Either claim the numbers were down due to holiday hiring or take credit for it because of the Bush tax cuts give the "job creators" will to start hiring. Either way the right will NEVER admit that some of the things Obama is doing are slowly starting to work.
Of course, because the "improving jobs numbers" in december is because of temporary holiday hiring. Dollars to donuts there is a drop in January/Febuary.
McCain said. "If Mitt Romney wins here, he will be the next President of the United States."
You said you would be president of the Unit State of America when you pick Palin. You lied then, you are lying now.
At some point, Romney is going to be called out for not running on his own policies...his tax plan will balloon the deficit and give tax breaks to the wealthy while increasing taxes for the lower middle income people.
just like George W. Bush, another Harvard Biz School grad. Get lost! All you want to do is get your Mitt's on Rmoney, uh, Romney.
Like all Republicans, Romney is deeply disappointed the job statistics and the economy in general is improving. They all worked quite hard to prevent any improvement before the 2012 election.
He's merely regurgitating the right wing media (FAUX, Hannity, etc.) talking points. Mark my words, tune in to Hannity this afternoon and you'll hear himl say the numbers mean nothing and that Obama still sucks. Same stuff, different day. The unemployment rate could drop to 0% and they'd still rip Obama.
The 8.5% unemployment rate is now the lowest it's been since February 2009.
Romney made no mention of the new jobs numbers, but said Obama has failed to live up to the promises he made during the early days of his administration.
"He has failed to put American back to work," Romney said
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Romney's brand of Teatard tainted Rethuglican doesn't care about facts contradicting their assertions. To them fact are pesky little things that must be quickly overshadowed my misinformational spin, fear and hate.
Obama 2012. Seriously America.
What the heck does this doofus know about jobs? Massachusetts was 47th in job creation when he was governor.
Rewrite:
"To them facts are pesky little things that must be quickly overshadowed by misinformational spin, fear and hate".
Pardon me.
the guy who destryed the state of Mass when he was a governor and sank the state to number 49 in jobs growth has no right what so ever to speak about the economy and job growth. the only growth Mitt knows about is his own personal fund and his bank account. wake up republicans, wake up middle class republican and see what those clowns are try to sell you. they are not trying to sell to you. they are SELLING YOU to the wolves.
Your tax policies sucks...your job creation in MA. sucked as well as cutting the throats of workers at your company, strictly for profits. Don't need you, Romney! Produce your Tax returns and birth certificate
Mitt is just a hater! Mr. Obama could cure cancer and Mitt would call him a witch doctor.
I used to think I could tolerate this man, but the more I listen to Willard the more I am beginning to dislike him. I realize he is running to unseat President Obama, but his constant harping, especially in the face of good economic news, is like fingernails on a chalkboard. He makes me feel depressed. Williard and John – ewwwwww!!
OBAMA/BIDEN 2012!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Seasonal holiday hiring = Improving Employment numbers ?
Shame on you Peter !
How come i don't remember this promise to keep unemployment under 8%, this lie is the only way they can spin the failed policies of G. W. Bush onto the successful policies of President Obama. President Obama took over a government that was failing internationally and domestically on almost every level, and has made the governmemt work well in three short years. We now have a effective foriegn policy, and a economic policy that is starting to put people back to work. This is change we can believe in. Obama/Biden 2012
Romney won’t give credits to any one he will give credits to himself
Today morning in "Starting Point" they like claim credit for 100,000 jobs created by by Bain Capital and ignoring jobs lost by Bain Capital
Unbelievable
any good news about more jobs is needed no matter the leader...open up the pipe line ..more jobs there.. stop the stupid politics... what if it was your familey looking for work
All that education and the financial savvy he claims to have is good for nothing.
Of course, he wouldn't know an American job for an American worker here in the states if it hit him in the face!!!!
Since this clown has based his whole campaign on hoping the economy continue to get worse under Obama I guess he has to go with it! However, if things continue to improve Mitt Romney is going to get crushed in the general election and one reason is he is making all the economic promises that he won't be able to keep because being President of the US is not like being CEO or president of Bain. You have to get most things through the crazy congress and I think Obama learned the hard way, it is not a walk in the park!
Mitt Romney reminds me of washer that's stuck on one cycle – spin.