Unemployment rates fall in 7 US swing states

Rates dropped in Ohio, Florida, Wisconsin, Colorado, Iowa, Nevada and North Carolina. They were unchanged in New Hampshire and Virginia.

The declines could help President Barack Obama at a critical time. With just 18 days until Election Day, polls show GOP challenger Mitt Romney gaining momentum with voters in key states.

Overall, the Labor Department said Friday that rates fell in 41 states last month, rose in six and were unchanged in three.

Two weeks ago, the government said the national unemployment rate dropped in September to 7.8 percent. It's the lowest level since Obama's first month in office. The government will report Nov. 2 on October employment, just four days before the election.

Friday's state unemployment report is the last before the election.

Many key states are still facing high unemployment. The rate was 11.8 percent in Nevada and 9.6 percent in North Carolina.

Still, voters are often more influenced by the trend in unemployment than the rates themselves, according to political analysts. Nevada will likely test that theory. It has the nation's highest unemployment rate. But it has also experienced the steepest decline in the past 12 months. The unemployment rate there was 13.6 percent a year ago.