Job losses threaten region's Bush support
But Carolinas expected to favor president again in November election
SCOTT DODD AND CHARLES LUNAN
Staff Writers
President Bush visits Charlotte today in an economic climate very different from when he won the Carolinas four years ago.
At least 200,000 jobs in both states have vanished since Bush took office -- mostly in manufacturing, the region's traditional economic base.
That's not expected to turn either state from Republican red to Democratic blue on the electoral map. The Carolinas are still Bush country and likely to stay that way.
"He might not do as well as last time, but he'll get all the electoral votes," UNC Charlotte political science Professor Ted Arrington said.
But concerns about jobs and war could dominate the campaign and tighten the vote in two states where Bush would like to sweep to easy victory and carry GOP candidates with him.
Not all the economic news under Bush has been bad for the Carolinas. While manufacturing has suffered during his term, real estate and the financial services industry are thriving, especially in Charlotte, where the net job losses were limited to just 500.
Interest rates are the lowest in more than four decades, and a rebound in stock prices last year is expected to give many Americans more money to spend.
But job losses are a major concern for the Bush campaign and an issue Democrats believe will play to their advantage in the fall. Between July 2000 and October 2003, the nation lost one out of every six manufacturing jobs, according to the National Association of Manufacturers.
Bush's prediction that his tax cuts would create 1 million new jobs hasn't panned out. The slow economy resulted in a net loss of 2.3 million jobs under his administration.
MoreJob losses threaten region's Bush support
But Carolinas expected to favor president again in November election
SCOTT DODD AND CHARLES LUNAN
Staff Writers
President Bush visits Charlotte today in an economic climate very different from when he won the Carolinas four years ago.
At least 200,000 jobs in both states have vanished since Bush took office -- mostly in manufacturing, the region's traditional economic base.
That's not expected to turn either state from Republican red to Democratic blue on the electoral map. The Carolinas are still Bush country and likely to stay that way.
"He might not do as well as last time, but he'll get all the electoral votes," UNC Charlotte political science Professor Ted Arrington said.
But concerns about jobs and war could dominate the campaign and tighten the vote in two states where Bush would like to sweep to easy victory and carry GOP candidates with him.
Not all the economic news under Bush has been bad for the Carolinas. While manufacturing has suffered during his term, real estate and the financial services industry are thriving, especially in Charlotte, where the net job losses were limited to just 500.
Interest rates are the lowest in more than four decades, and a rebound in stock prices last year is expected to give many Americans more money to spend.
But job losses are a major concern for the Bush campaign and an issue Democrats believe will play to their advantage in the fall. Between July 2000 and October 2003, the nation lost one out of every six manufacturing jobs, according to the National Association of Manufacturers.
Bush's prediction that his tax cuts would create 1 million new jobs hasn't panned out. The slow economy resulted in a net loss of 2.3 million jobs under his administration.
Job losses threaten region's Bush support
But Carolinas expected to favor president again in November election
SCOTT DODD AND CHARLES LUNAN
Staff Writers
President Bush visits Charlotte today in an economic climate very different from when he won the Carolinas four years ago.
At least 200,000 jobs in both states have vanished since Bush took office -- mostly in manufacturing, the region's traditional economic base.
That's not expected to turn either state from Republican red to Democratic blue on the electoral map. The Carolinas are still Bush country and likely to stay that way.
"He might not do as well as last time, but he'll get all the electoral votes," UNC Charlotte political science Professor Ted Arrington said.
But concerns about jobs and war could dominate the campaign and tighten the vote in two states where Bush would like to sweep to easy victory and carry GOP candidates with him.
Not all the economic news under Bush has been bad for the Carolinas. While manufacturing has suffered during his term, real estate and the financial services industry are thriving, especially in Charlotte, where the net job losses were limited to just 500.
Interest rates are the lowest in more than four decades, and a rebound in stock prices last year is expected to give many Americans more money to spend.
But job losses are a major concern for the Bush campaign and an issue Democrats believe will play to their advantage in the fall. Between July 2000 and October 2003, the nation lost one out of every six manufacturing jobs, according to the National Association of Manufacturers.
Bush's prediction that his tax cuts would create 1 million new jobs hasn't panned out. The slow economy resulted in a net loss of 2.3 million jobs under his administration.
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/8043110.htm
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