A sharp rise in unemployment in the United States is expected to hurt the Republican campaign for the White House.
The jobless rate has increased to 6.1 per cent - it's highest level since September 2003.
Government Professor at the University of Virginia, Larry Sabato says the August figures will put a dent in the Republican presidential campaign.
“The truth is that the fundamentals this year could not be more hostile to another Republican victory.”
“That doesn’t mean McCain can’t win, it just means that it’s going to be a steep uphill climb.”