Obama: New Jobs Report Inconvenient for GOP 'Doom and Despair Tour' in New Hampshire

The president spoke about the economy today.

ByABC News
February 5, 2016, 12:53 PM

— -- President Obama said the "durable" U.S. economy has continued to grow this year despite what Republican presidential candidates have been claiming on the campaign trail.

"I know that’s still inconvenient for Republican stump speeches as their doom and despair tour plays in New Hampshire. I guess you cannot please everybody," Obama said.

Employers added 151,000 new jobs last month and the unemployment rate fell to 4.9 percent -- the first time the jobless rate has dipped below 5 percent since February 2008.

Speaking briefly to reporters today, Obama said the U.S. economy is the "strongest in the world" and that "Americans were working and getting bigger paychecks."

"We should feel good about the progress we've made," he said, before noting that more can be done to boost the economy.

Obama also compared the nation's economy to his gym workouts.

"If it's working, then we should be staying on that same path," he said, adding that he doesn't reach for a "big double-bacon cheeseburger" after a good workout at the gym.