UNDATED (AP) — President Barack Obama is conceding that the economy needs to create jobs faster. But he says recovering from the recession is "a long, tough journey."
Meanwhile, the man who hopes to replace Obama says today's employment report shows that it's time for a new president. Mitt Romney says Obama has done "almost nothing" to give the American people confidence that he knows what he's doing when it comes to jobs and the economy.
Romney says Obama tried, "but he didn't understand what it takes to make our economy work."
The Labor Department says U.S. employers added just 96,000 jobs last month as the number of people in the work force dropped to its lowest level in 31 years. The unemployment rate dropped to 8.1 percent, but only because more people gave up looking for work.
Romney's running mate Paul Ryan tells CNBC "this is not even close to what a recovery looks like." The Wisconsin congressman blames "bad fiscal policy."
House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi says Obama and the Democrats had plenty of plans to create more jobs and boost the economy but Republicans "keep standing in the way of growth and certainty for our economy."
%@AP Links
223-a-11-(President Barack Obama, addressing campaign rally)-"we went in"-President Obama says the jobs report isn't what he'd like to see. (7 Sep 2012)
<<CUT *223 (09/07/12)>> 00:11 "we went in"
224-a-12-(President Barack Obama, addressing campaign rally)-"six million jobs"-President Obama makes the point that the economy does keep adding jobs. (7 Sep 2012)
<<CUT *224 (09/07/12)>> 00:12 "six million jobs"
216-a-09-(Mitt Romney, Republican presidential nominee, with reporters)-"what he's doing"-Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney says President Barack Obama has not proven he's a job creator. (7 Sep 2012)
<<CUT *216 (09/07/12)>> 00:09 "what he's doing"
214-a-14-(Mitt Romney, Republican presidential nominee, with reporters)-"he would do"-Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney says President Barack Obama's economic plan is not working. (7 Sep 2012)
<<CUT *214 (09/07/12)>> 00:14 "he would do"
APPHOTO IANH103: Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney speaks during a campaign stop in Orange City, Iowa, Friday, Sept. 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik) (7 Sep 2012)
<<APPHOTO IANH103 (09/07/12)>>
APPHOTO NHPM119: President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden stand on stage during a campaign event at Strawbery Banke Museum in Portsmouth, N.H., Friday, Sept. 7, 2012. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) (7 Sep 2012)
<<APPHOTO NHPM119 (09/07/12)>>
