What conservatives will say about the BLS report coming it at 7.8% [View all]
"That's because more people stopped looking for work."
Actually, nope. The reason for the drop is that previous months' job numbers were revised upward dramatically. We actually weren't at 8.1% last month when you work in the revisions. We were at 7.9%.
"The BLS is cooking its numbers to help Obama."
The BLS methodology has been in place since the 1930s. The crosstabs and full numbers are there for everyone to see. The ability to "cook the books" simply doesn't exist.
The reason the 7.8% number seems like such a dramatic change for the better is because the BLS was way off the past several months.
The household survey shows that 800,000 more Americans are employed than it showed a month ago. That is because the survey was way off to the low side over the past half year.
There is no way for Romney and company to spin this report as bad. The UE rate the day Obama was sworn in was 7.9%.
Every talking point that Romney had about the economy is now neutered. The only thing he has left is to talk about the deficit and debt.
This election effectively ended today. And it might help down-ballot too.