Obama’s policies: Working fairly well in Ohio
Unemployment in the United States and Ohio.
(BLS data; Google graphs.)
The Romney campaign just sent out this statement from Jerry Hruby, mayor of Brecksville, Ohio:
President Obama never fails to disappoint. He’s come to Ohio many times and, each time he visits, he promises that things will get better. Unfortunately, all we can count on is that he will soon return, making the same promises and delivering the same lack of results. President Obama’s policies have not worked.
What’s odd about this pitch is that if we’re attributing all movement in the American economy to “Obama’s policies,” then Obama’s policies are working relatively well for Ohio.
When Obama took office, unemployment in Ohio was 9.1 percent. Within six months, it was 10.6 percent — higher than the national average. But since then, unemployment in Ohio has dropped faster and further than it has elsewhere in the country. Today it’s 7.4 percent. If “Obama’s policies” were working as well nationally as they are in Ohio, he’d be cruising to reelection.
- Spam
- Obscene
- Duplicate
Blog Contributors
Ezra Klein
Ezra Klein is the editor of Wonkblog and a columnist at the Washington Post, as well as a contributor to MSNBC and Bloomberg. His work focuses on domestic and economic policymaking, as well as the political system that’s constantly screwing it up. He really likes graphs, and is on Twitter, Google+ and Facebook. E-mail him here.
Neil Irwin
Neil Irwin is a Washington Post columnist and the economics editor of Wonkblog. Each weekday morning his Econ Agenda column reports and explains the latest trends in economics, finance, and the policies that shape both. He is the author of “The Alchemists: Three Central Bankers and a World on Fire.” Follow him on Twitter here. Email him here.
Sarah Kliff
Sarah Kliff covers health policy, focusing on Medicare, Medicaid and the health reform law. She tries to fit in some reproductive health and education policy coverage, too, alongside an occasional hockey reference. Her work has appeared in Newsweek, Politico, and the BBC. She is on Twitter and Facebook.
Brad Plumer
Brad Plumer is a reporter focusing on energy and environmental issues. He was previously an associate editor at The New Republic. Follow him on Twitter. Email him here.
Dylan Matthews
Dylan Matthews covers taxes, poverty, campaign finance, higher education, and all things data. He has also written for The New Republic, Salon, Slate, and The American Prospect. Follow him on Twitter here. Email him here.
Loading...
Comments