WASHINGTON --
| Rising unemployment hurts an incumbent president's re-election prospects. Here's a look at the role unemployment trends have played in elections since 1980 when sitting presidents sought to stay in the White House. | |
| Election Year Unemployment rate in November Background Result | |
| 1980 7.5 percent Unemployment rose sharply _ from 5.9 percent _ in the year leading up to the election, diminishing President Jimmy Carter's hopes for re-election. Carter unseated by challenger Ronald Reagan, 51-41 percent. | |
| 1984 7.2 percent Unemployment was still high _ but had come down dramatically after peaking at 10.8 percent in December 1982. Reagan beat challenger Walter Mondale in a landslide, 59-41 percent. | |
| 1992 7.4 percent President George H.W. Bush looked invincible after a U.S.-led coalition drove Iraq out of Kuwait in early 1991. But rising unemployment changed everything by Election Day 1992. Bush ousted by Bill Clinton, 43-37 percent. | |
| 1996 5.4 percent A powerful economic expansion boosted Clinton's re-election prospects. Clinton fended off challenger Bob Dole, 49-41 percent. | |
| 2004 5.4 percent A strengthening economic recovery helped President George W. Bush Bush won re-election over challenger John Kerry, 51-48 percent. | |
| 2012 7.8 percent (October 2012) A lackluster economic recovery made President Barack Obama vulnerable | but a big drop in October unemployment lifted his prospects. ??? |