Nothing upsets a president's re-election groove like ugly economic numbers.

A spring slowdown in hiring and a rise in the unemployment rate are weighing on President Barack Obama, while enhancing Republican challenger Mitt Romney's argument that the Democratic incumbent is in over his head.

Some questions and answers about how Friday's economic news may play in a close presidential race:

Q: How bad is this for Obama?

A: Pretty awful. Polls show Obama's handling of the economy is his biggest weak spot. People in the United States overwhelmingly rate the economy as their biggest worry, and jobs are what they say matters most.

But the president still has time for the jobs outlook to improve. Five more monthly unemployment reports are due — the last coming just four days before the Nov. 6 election. The fall numbers will mean more when voters head to the polls.

Q: What can Obama tell voters if the job picture stays bleak?