Public pessimism about the direction of the country has jumped to its highest level in nearly three years, erasing the sense of hope that followed President Obama’s inauguration and pushing his approval ratings to a record low, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

More than 60 percent of those surveyed say they disapprove of the way the president is handling the economy and, what has become issue No. 1, the stagnant jobs situation.

Some 2012 GOP presidential candidates were quick to react to Friday's Bureau of Labor Statistics report showing the U.S. economy created zero jobs in August. Here is a look at their statements.

Rick Perry Campaign:

"Today's unemployment numbers continue to demonstrate the failed leadership of President Obama in turning our economy around and creating jobs. Governor Perry has a track record of job creation and he will continue talking about his ideas to get America working again."

Mitt Romney Campaign:

"Today's disappointing unemployment report is further proof that President Obama has failed. President Obama oversaw an economy that created zero jobs last month and that is unacceptable. In order to change the direction of this country, we need to change presidents. Americans need a conservative businessman to get this economy moving again, not career politicians. That is why I am running.

A dismal labor report Friday showed the economy added zero net workers in August, intensifying pressure on President Obama to unveil a major jobs initiative during his speech to Congress next week.

The Labor Department report, which showed the unemployment rate stuck at 9.1 percent, feeds into concerns that the economy could be at risk of another recession. It was the weakest jobs report since September 2010.

Republican leaders swiftly cited the report as renewed evidence that the Obama administration must change course.

"Private-sector job growth continues to be undermined by the triple threat of higher taxes, more failed 'stimulus' spending, and excessive federal regulations," House Speaker John Boehner said.

He and House Republican Leader Eric Cantor urged Obama to reach across the aisle when he unveils his jobs plan next week.

The White House projects that the unemployment rate will still be above 9 percent next year as President Obama seeks to win a second term.

The new figures from the White House budget office predict that the economy will grow by just 1.7 percent this year, a full percentage point less than the administration predicted at the beginning of 2011. The economy grew by just 0.7 percent in the first half of the year, the slowest pace since the recession ended two years ago.

But the White House does not forecast the economy sliding back into recession.

The White House report also sees the budget deficit topping $1.3 trillion for the fiscal year that ends at the end of this month.

Joblessness looms large in the 2012 race for the White House and with unemployment hovering above 9 percent, on September 6 former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is poised to release his plan to put Americans back to work just days before President Obama plans to unveil his latest jobs bill.

In a Keene, New Hampshire town hall meeting on Wednesday, Romney touted his business experience before a crowd of 200 people, saying it would help him create jobs if he's elected president.

"I think that if you want to create jobs it helps to have had a job, and I have," Romney said. "I want to make this the most attractive place in the world to grow a business"...

The Obama administration is touting 154,000 new private sector jobs in July, a number that provided some solace to official Washington. But Friday's Labor Department report gave analysts few positive indicators that the economy is on the rebound.

With the unemployment rate hovering at 9.1. percent, down one-tenth of a percent from June, the report showed 13.9 million unemployed people, 6.2 million who have been out of work for more than six months.

Also telling is the 63.9 percent of the civilian labor force -- or 153.2 million people -- that is working. That's the lowest ratio of employed-to-unemployed civilians since January 1984. The employment-to-population ratio hit 58.1 percent, the lowest percentage since July 1983...

(CNSNews.com) - House Republican Conference Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) says the June unemployment rate shows that Democrats are making things worse, not better:

“Today's numbers are sadly not a surprise but another sign that President Obama's spending agenda did not help our jobs crisis--it made it worse. They are a reminder that 20 million Americans remain unemployed, are only working part-time, or have stopped looking for jobs altogether because they simply aren’t out there. Times are tough, and the Democrats’ refusal to tackle the major impediments to job creation is only making them tougher, for longer,” Hensarling said in a statement.

The Labor Department on Friday said the economy generated only 18,000 net jobs in June – the fewest in nine months. The unemployment rate rose to 9.2 percent...

WASHINGTON (AP) - Employers hired only 54,000 new workers in May, the fewest in eight months, and the unemployment rate rose to 9.1 percent.

The Labor Department report offered startling evidence that the U.S. economy is slowing, hampered by high gas prices and natural disasters in Japan that have hurt U.S. manufacturers.

The pace of hiring has weakened dramatically from the previous three months, when the economy added an average of 220,000 new jobs. Private companies hired only 83,000 new workers in May -- the fewest in nearly a year...

Capping off a dismal week in economic news, the Labor Department reported Friday that the pace of hiring slowed dramatically in May and the unemployment rate rose to 9.1 percent -- fueling Republican demands that the Obama administration change direction on its economic policy.

Employers hired just 54,000 new workers in May, the fewest in eight months. The numbers follow a string of other reports showing a slowdown in manufacturing and deepening slump in the housing market. The trendlines come at a bad time for President Obama, as the official field of 2012 Republican presidential candidates starts to take shape; the candidates are eager to make the economy a central plank in their campaigns.

"President Obama's policies made the recession worse and as a result more people are out of work," former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who announced his jobs-centered White House bid Thursday, said after the report was released...

Rep. Peter T. King said Thursday that President Obama’s “mixed messages” on terrorism and his handling of the economy have opened the door for Republicans to deny him a second term next year.

“I think President Obama is very vulnerable,” Mr. King, New York Republican, said in an interview on The Washington Times-affiliated “America's Morning News” radio program.

“Any president who is going to have more than 8 percent unemployment, with gas prices at $4.50 … right away, that makes him vulnerable. And on terrorism, while I do give him a lot of credit for getting [Osama] bin Laden, the fact is he has very mixed messages,” added Mr. King, who chairs the House Homeland Security Committee...