Effect of jobs numbers on presidential race is uncertain

Our take: Though this month's anticipated jobs report was thought to help sway the presidential race, it ended up being more or less anticlimactic. Nate of the Five-thirty-eight blog reported on what the job numbers mean for the race:

"Friday's jobs report was a weak one — with August's job growth more in line with the tepid growth of the spring than the stronger numbers in July or over the winter months.

"Furthermore, job-growth numbers for May and June were revised downward slightly, and manufacturing jobs — a measure that Democrats touted at various points during their convention this week in Charlotte, N.C. — fell by 15,000.

"Politically, however, it is less certain that the report is going to matter that much. The unemployment rate declined for superficial reasons, which makes for a gentler headline for President Obama."

Read more about Effect of job numbers on The New York Times.