As the Associated Press reports, liberal U.S. Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) has expressed confidence that he and President Barack Obama – whose liberal agenda Nelson has rubberstamped in Washington – will fare well with Florida voters in 2012, because Nelson insists “the economy is improving.”

But as Nelson stakes his reelection on Florida’s economic health, the St. Petersburg Times notes that the “bottom-line numbers released Friday weren’t encouraging: the state shed an estimated 17,900 jobs between November and December and its unemployment rate was unchanged at 12 percent.”

Notably, Nelson rubberstamped President Obama’s $787 billion stimulus debacle, which has failed to create jobs while driving our national debt past $14 trillion.

“Does Bill Nelson really believe that 18,000 lost jobs and 12 percent unemployment is an ‘improvement’ for Florida?” asked National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Press Secretary Chris Bond. “While Nelson is busy talking about his reelection campaign, Florida’s families and job creators are hurting, and his reckless spending in Washington has failed to provide relief. The fact is, Bill Nelson is out-of-touch with his state, and we look forward to hearing him defend his misplaced priorities as he seeks yet another term in Washington.”