Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell

By Dustin Hurst | Watchdog.org

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Democrats offered glitzy and glamorous speeches this week, but Republicans on the counter-attack here said Thursday the dazzle will fade when the national jobless numbers hit the news  cycle early Friday morning.

On the final day of the Democratic National Convention, ahead of President Barack Obama’s nomination at Time Warner Cable Arena tonight, Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell said while Democrats may offer elaborate speeches, economic reality will quickly force the national discussion back to jobless Americans.

“We heard a very passionate speech from Bill Clinton last night and again we’ll hear no about a very rousing, energetic speech from President Obama,” McDonnell told reporters gathered in the NASCAR Hall of Fame, the GOP’s headquarters for the week. “He’s a very gifted speaker.”

“… We’re going to wake up in the morning, and we’re going to get the next jobs report. And that jobs report is going to undoubtedly say that for 43 months, every month of the Obama presidency, except his first, that the unemployment rate in the United States of America has been over 8 percent.”

July’s unemployment ticked up to 8.3 percent, after spending several months at 8.2 percent. Jobless claims are down this week, suggesting the unemployment rate could drop slightly in Friday’s release.

It is unlikely the rate will not drop below 8 percent, meaning Republicans will continue to hammer the president on the issue.

Regardless of what Obama articulates during his primetime nomination speech Thursday night, McDonnell said Americans want to focus on paying their bills and putting food on the table.

“When you strip away all the varnish and all that good will that might be generated for a couple of hours or even a few days from the speeches, we’re going to get back to what American’s really care about,” McDonnell offered.

Texas U.S. Senate candidate Ted Cruz

Texas U.S. Senate candidate Ted Cruz, a tea party favorite in the Lone State State, echoed McDonnell’s attack line, telling reporters that fancy rhetoric won’t solve economic hardship.

“He’s not going to talk about the fact the one in seven Americans are on food stamps today,” Cruz said, previewing the president’s speech. “As with Sherlock Holmes, often what is not said communicates a great deal more than what is said.”

Republicans worked feverishly this week to dissuade the political media from covering the social issues the Democrats discussed at their convention. Instead, they continue to knock Obama on the economy, consistently arguing the sluggish job numbers hurt men, women and minorities equally.

“His rhetoric is terrific, but Barack Obama’s policies don’t work,” Cruz warned.

Contact Dustin Hurst at dustin@watchdog.org