| Economic Indicator | 2000 | 2008 |
| Unemployment rate |  4.0% | 6.1% |
| Inflation rate | 3.3% | 5.4% |
| Job Growth (preceding 8 years) | ||
| Total nonfarm employment | 21.4% | 4.3% |
| Private sector employment | 23.6% | 3.6% |
| Manufacturing employment | 2.9% | -22.2% |
| Employment rate (% of population) | ||
| All, age 16 and older | 64.4% | 62.6% |
| Men, age 16 and older | 71.9% | 69.1% |
| Women, age 16 and older | 57.5% | 56.5% |
| Real wage growth (preceding 8 years) | 8.2% | 1.8% |
| Minimum wage (July 2008$) | $6.58 | $6.55 |
| Family income | ||
| Median, 2007$ | $61,083 | $61,355 |
| Growth (preceding 8 years) | 14.7% | 0.4% |
| Poverty | ||
| Rate (% of population) | 11.3% | 12.5% |
| People in poverty (millions) | 31.6 | 37.3 |
| Uninsured (health insurance) | ||
| Rate (% of population) | 14.0% | 15.3% |
| People without insurance (millions) | 38.7 | 45.7 |
| Personal savings (% of disposable income) | 2.3% | 0.6% |
| College tuition (average per year, 2007$) | ||
| Private four-year college | $19,337 | $23,712 |
| Public four-year college | $4,221 | $6,185 |
| Gasoline (gallon, 2008$) | $2.03 | $4.09 |
| GDP growth (preceding 8 years) | 34.2% | 19.6% |
| Productivity growth (preceding 8 years) | 15.9% | 21.9% |
| Trade balance (% of GDP) | -3.9% | -5.1% |
| Federal debt (% of GDP) | 57.3% | 65.5% |
| Net foreign debt (% of GDP) | 13.6% | 17.9% |
If the electorate voted on the basis of actual performance rather than on the basis of some kind of perceived party loyalty, there is no way that the election would be as close as it is.
But they don't so it is.
