Because the unemployment rate is based on the size of the workforce, if people drop out of the workforce [ 89 Million currently ] but the number of unemployed remains relatively flat, the unemployment rate will actually increase, even though the same number of people are unemployed [ over 101 Million ].
You live by the statistical sword and you die by the statistical sword. Obama has benefitted for months from a dropping unemployment rate due to “discouraged workers” who drop out and aren’t counted in the numbers.
Apparently, he hasn’t been discouraging enough.