CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — When it comes to the jobs question in Illinois’ gubernatorial race, Gov. Pat Quinn and challenger Bruce Rauner wield economic numbers like political weapons.

But a closer look shows the picture isn’t as clear as either candidate claims.
Rauner’s campaign says Illinois has lost jobs since December. And U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics figures indicate that’s true. About 15,000 jobs have been lost.

But the state’s added jobs since Quinn took office in 2009. And the bureau says that since the recovery from the recession began in 2010, Illinois has added more than 250,000 jobs.

That’s a figure the Quinn administration touts a lot. But even that growth is a tepid 1 percent a year.

The Illinois race is one of the most closely watched gubernatorial races in the country.

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