The Labor Department's report that unemployment has fallen below 8% for the first time since January 2009 is sure to provide a needed political boost for President Obama.

For President Obama, the first national unemployment rate to fall below 8% during his presidency couldn't come at a better time.

The Labor Department's announcement this morning that the economy gained 114,000 jobs in September and the jobless rate fell from 8.1% to 7.8% represents a big, if temporary, political boost for a president suddenly struggling to overcome a poor performance in the first nationally televised debate.