Job trends key to presidents seeking re-election By Associated Press October 5, 2012 8:47 pm FacebookTwitterEmailPrint Add Washington Examiner on Google FacebookTwitterEmailPrint WASHINGTON (AP) — Rising unemployment hurts an incumbent president’s re-election prospects. Here’s a look at the role unemployment trends have played in elections since 1980 when sitting presidents sought to stay in the White House. Related Content Energy Washington Examiner’s Callie Patteson leads panel on affordability and energy prices Defense ‘Cuba is at the end of the line’: Cuba in the crosshairs at Trump’s Shield of Americas Summit Defense Trump announces new ‘Americas Counter Cartel Coalition’ at Shield of the Americas Summit Crime NYC vigil for Ayatollah Khamenei turns violent as protestors clash White House WATCH LIVE: Trump speaks at Shield of Americas Summit