Chiming in on Unemployment Rate, Rick Scott and Alex Sink Focus on Business Backgrounds

The gubernatorial candidates weighed in on the news Friday that the state's unemployment rate went up in September -- and both Democratic nominee state CFO Alex Sink and Republican candidate Rick Scott focused on their experience creating jobs in the private sector.

Todays new unemployment numbers reiterate what so many of you already know; Florida is in trouble, said Sink on the state's 11.9 percent unemployment rate. We used to be a leader in job creation and now our statewide unemployment rate is above the national average, and growing. Florida needs a leader with an extensive economic plan for job creation and the experience and know-how to implement it. I have that plan and I have the experience to get Florida back on track. As governor I will bring both along with my history of integrity and effectiveness to Tallahassee so I can turn Floridas economy around and be nobodys governor but yours.

The Scott camp fired back -- connecting Sink with President Barack Obama who polls show is unpopular in Florida despite carrying the Sunshine State in 2008.

Todays job numbers show that Florida is desperately in need of change and in this election voters have a clear choice, said Trey Stapleton, a spokesman for Scott. They can vote for Alex Sink, an Obama liberal who believes in increasing spending and government with no clear way of how to pay for it. Or they can vote for Rick Scott, who has a proven record of creating private-sector jobs and has a clear plan to turn Floridas economy around.