Obama, Romney backers cite different jobs numbers

President Obama, Republican challenger Mitt Romney and their backers are stressing different aspects of today's jobs report -- the ones that bolster their respective campaigns.

Obama and backers cite another month of job growth, and a relatively big one -- 171,000 jobs added on October, about 46,000 more than forecast. They also note that jobs gains in previous months have been revised upward.

"While more work remains to be done, today's employment report provides further evidence that the U.S. economy is continuing to heal from the wounds inflicted by the worst downturn since the Great Depression," said Alan Krueger, chairman of the president's Council of Economic Advisers.

Krueger added: "It is critical that we continue the policies that are building an economy that works for the middle class as we dig our way out of the deep hole that was caused by the severe recession that began in December 2007."

Romney and supporters are likely to cite an uptick in the unemployment rate, up to 7.9%.

"The jobless rate is higher than it was when President Obama took office, and there are still 23 million Americans struggling for work," Romney said in a statement. "On Tuesday, America will make a choice between stagnation and prosperity."