SNOW:
Good evening. I'm
Kate Snow
, in for
Brian Williams
on this
Labor Day
.
KATE SNOW, anchor:
President Obama
spent the holiday in
Milwaukee
talking to union members about the
economy
, and topic number one for so many families right now, creating more jobs. According to the August unemployment report which came out on Friday, nearly 15 million people are without jobs on this
Labor Day
and another nine million are working part-time, not because they choose to but because they cannot find a full-time job.
SNOW:
The
Obama
administration is unveiling new plans this week to try to boost
job growth
; but today's speech was as much about politics as it was about new programs, with the midterm elections just eight weeks from tomorrow. Joining me now from the
White House NBC
's
Mike Viqueira
.
Mike
, good evening.
MIKE VIQUEIRA reporting:
Good evening,
Kate
. The president told supporters today there's no silver bullet for what ails the
economy
. But in a speech that quickly became a political stem-winder, that didn't stop him from firing away at Republican opponents.
President BARACK OBAMA:
Hello, Milwaukee!
VIQUEIRA:
The president today in
Wisconsin
speaking to a friendly union audience and vowing to keep his focus on jobs and the
economy
.
Pres. OBAMA:
I am going to keep fighting every single day, every single hour, every single minute to turn this
economy
around and put people back to work.
VIQUEIRA:
Mr.
Obama
unveiled his latest plan to jump-start growth, immediate spending on highways, airports and rail lines totaling $50 billion. But the plan would have to get through
Congress
, and today
GOP
leaders dismissed it out of hand. "Americans are rightly skeptical about
Washington
Democrats asking for more of their money and their patience," said top
Senate
Republican
Mitch McConnell
. "After all, they're still looking for the 'shovel-ready' jobs they were promised more than a year ago." But today's speech was more about politics than economics, and Mr.
Obama
launched a spirited attack against
Republicans
by invoking his own successful run.
Group of People:
Yes, we can! Yes, we can! Yes, we can!
Pres. OBAMA:
Now, I mean, I personally think "yes, we can" is more inspiring than 'no, we can't.'
VIQUEIRA:
But much has changed in two years. With the
economy
still sluggish and the jobless rate high, Mr.
Obama
's standing in the polls has dropped. Now even as he prepares to release more of his plan later this week, experts say a strong
job market
isn't likely soon.
Mr. PETER MORICI (Professor, University of Maryland Business School):
The
economy
is simply not going to improve before the election. There's nothing that
Barack Obama
can do about that.
Pres. OBAMA:
They talk about me like a dog!
VIQUEIRA:
Part of the president's job today to fire up the party faithful. With polls showing high enthusiasm among conservatives and independents leaning Republican, today Mr.
Obama
served his base plenty of red meat.
Pres. OBAMA:
If I said the sky was blue, they say no.
VIQUEIRA:
But experts say it all may come too late for
Democrats
this fall.
Mr. STUART ROTHENBERG (Political Analyst):
People are focused on the numbers, unemployment, jobs; and the president getting on
TV
or appearing in your town and telling you he's got some ideas for the future, that just doesn't cut it for most voters.
VIQUEIRA:
And,
Kate
, even with the renewed emphasis on the
economy
and all the president is doing to help
Democrats
in the fall, experts are now saying
Republicans
have a better than even chance of taking control of the
House of
Representatives in November. Kate:
Mike Viqueira
at the
White House
tonight. Thank you.
SNOW:
“ ”