Unemployment falls in 34 states, rose in six

Several states with competitive Senate races saw their
unemployment numbers drop in April, but that trend was bucked by Nevada, where
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D) faces low approval numbers and is a top target for Republicans.

Unemployment in Reid’s state, one of the hardest hit by the
housing crisis, jumped from 13.4 percent in March. The state had 40,000 fewer
jobs in April 2010 compared to April 2009, according to statistics released
Friday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

While the figures are troubling for Reid, the report
provides some good news in general for Democrats, who have staked their
election hopes on an improved economy.

The Labor Department found 34 states and the District of
Columbia saw lower jobless rates in April. Six states reported higher rates and
10 held steady, according to the Associated Press.

Several of the 34 states that saw their unemployment rates
drop feature tough Senate races this year, including Florida, Missouri, New
Hampshire, Ohio, and Illinois.

Most of the states saw a mere .1 percentage of a decrease
but there was more movement in a couple competitive contests.

Illinois, where Democrats are fighting to keep President
Barack Obama’s seat, New Hampshire, which is an open seat, and Florida, where
three candidates are fighting for an open seat, saw .3 percent decreases.

The high unemployment rate has fueled voters’ anger, causing
an anti-incumbent mood to sweep the nation.

But if individual candidates can tout improvements in their
states, no matter what happens to the jobless rate on the national level, it
could help relieve anxious lawmakers who are worried about the November ballot.

Reid wasn’t the only incumbent Democrat who saw unemployment
in his state increase last month.

Colorado, where incumbent Sen. Michael Bennet (D) faces a
difficult primary, saw a rise in unemployment with .1 percent. The state has
58,000 fewer jobs in April 2010 than it had in April 2009, according to the
statistics.

Arkansas, where Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D) faces a primary
runoff in June, and California, where Sen. Barbara Boxer (D) is being
challenged, saw no change in their jobless rate.

Overall, seventeen states have unemployment rates above the
national average of 9.9 percent. Michigan remains the state with the highest unemployment rate, at 14 percent.