On a more personal level, my home state of North Carolina claims the fifth highest unemployment rate in the nation, at 9.4 percent. The not-so-good good news is that this is down two full percentage points since January 2010, where unemployment stood at 11.4 percent. It is evident that both North Carolina and the United States have a long way to go before anyone can claim that our private economy is doing “fine.” And while I’m a huge proponent of “finding the good in the bad,” I think now is the time to find the solution to the problem—and “fine” is not a solution.

The solution to the jobs problem is small business, not more government.

The state’s unemployment rate for May remained unchanged at 9.4 percent, marking the 41st consecutive month the unemployment rate has been 9.0 percent or higher. In seasonally adjusted terms, last month the state lost 16,500 jobs, the highest number in the nation.

North Carolina also had the fourth-highest unemployment rate in the nation.

Applicants have only to meet a few standards to qualify. They must be registered voters, at least 21 years old, who live in Cary. Disqualified are convicted sex offenders, felony offenders, people convicted of a misdemeanor in the last five years, and people convicted of misdemeanors involving a minor.

“I’ve never met a successful politician who didn’t run again,” said Biden, the Delaware attorney general.

The crowd collectively groaned. Biden’s line sounded similar to what Republicans say about another governor who isn’t seeking re-election: North Carolina Democrat Bev Perdue.