The U.S. Department of Labor released a report on Wednesday indicating that Florida is home to four of 11 of the cities that have the highest unemployment rates in the nation. Staffers for former House Speaker Marco Rubio, the likely Republican nominee in the U.S. Senate race, said this was due to economic policies backed by Gov. Charlie Crist -- who is running in the race without party affiliation -- and President Barack Obama.

“This report is just the latest indication that whether in the White House or the Florida governor’s mansion, the Obama-Crist economic plan of wasteful stimulus spending, higher taxes, more debt, cap-and-trade energy taxes and bailouts has failed our nation and our state,” said Alex Burgos, a spokesman for Rubio, on Thursday morning. “Washington doesn’t need more rubber stamps for the policies that are taking our country in the wrong direction. Marco Rubio is the only candidate who will go to Washington as a check-and-balance and is putting forth a clear pro-jobs alternative.”