BULLETIN:  IS THIS THE NOVEMBER SURPRISE? – The United States added a dramatic number of new jobs in the last month, according to a Labor Department report just issued.  The numbers are going to be questioned, coming this close to the election, but Obama will get bragging rights this weekend.  From Bloomberg:

Hiring in the U.S. increased more than forecast in October as employers looked past slowing global growth and political gridlock at home.

In the last jobs report before next week’s election, a net 171,000 workers were added to payrolls after a 148,000 gain in September that was more than first estimated, Labor Department figures showed today in Washington.

The median forecast of 91 economists surveyed by Bloomberg called for an advance of 125,000. The jobless rate rose to 7.9 percent from 7.8 percent as more people entered the labor force.

COMMENT:  I hate to say it, but this could seriously help Obama because of the way the mainstream media will spin the story – unless Romney turns the story around.

Romney has got to be out on the stump quickly.  He should 1) publicly doubt that the figures are accurate, given the highly politicized nature of the Obama administration, which released them; 2) note that the unemployment rate actually rose; 3) argue that, even if the numbers are true – four days before an election – they are actually terrible.  We need to produce 150,000 new jobs every month just to keep up with population growth.  Even if the numbers are accurate, we've had a net gain of 20,000 jobs for one month.  That's awful.

And Romney can compare this job growth with Reagan's.  Reagan's was vastly higher.

I think Romney can win this argument.  And it gets the focus back on the economy.  He just has to use the right words.

But I can't guarantee how this will play out.  The new numbers give the Obama groupies in the media their last chance to help their guy, and they'll use it.

November 2, 2012