Saturday, October 20, 2012 – 10:15 a.m.

Here’s some news of interest flowing across the transom this weekend.

Unemployment claims rise sharply

First-time claims for unemployment benefits climbed sharply last week.

Claims jumped 46,000 to a seasonally-adjusted 388,000. The prior week’s number was revised upward by 3,000 to 342,000.

The large spike was California getting its act together. The previous week the state reported incomplete figures to the U.S. department of Labor.

Nevertheless, the number is a bad indicator for the economy’s direction.

Romney holding gains in Gallup and Rasmussen Daily Tracking Polls

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney is maintaining his edge in the Gallup and Rasmussen Daily Tracking Polls.

The Gallup 7-day survey of 2,700 likely voter has Romney up 6% at 51-45 over President Barack Obama. A number outside the polls margin of error.

Scott Rasmussen’s 3-day survey of 1,500 likely voters has Romney up 1% at 49-48.

FoxNews continues ratings domination in Cable News venue

For Thursday, October 18, 2012:

Network            Program                    Viewers
FoxNews            The O'Reilly Factor        3,865,000
FoxNews            Sean Hannity               3,729,000
Comedy Central     The Daily Show             2,806,000
FoxNews            Gret VanSusteren           2,753,000
FoxNews            Bret Baier                 2,567,000
FoxNews            Shepard Smith              2,355,000
FoxNews            The Five                   2,242,000
Comedy Central     Stephen Colbert            1,912,000
MSNBC              Rachel Maddow              1,839,000
MSNBC              Lawrence O'Donnell         1,557,000
MSNBC              Hardball                   1,119,000
MSNBC              Al Sharpton                1,092,000
CNN                Piers Morgan                 894,000
CNN                Anderson Cooper              662,000