ATLANTA (AP) — Democratic candidate for governor Jason Carter says an increase in the unemployment rate is the result of Gov. Nathan Deal's cuts to education.

The unemployment rate overtook education as the top issue in the campaign Thursday as state labor officials announced that Georgia's unemployment rate has risen to 8.1 percent.

Deal's campaign spokesman Brian Robinson questioned the statistics collected by the federal government that determine unemployment rate. Robinson says the Deal campaign thinks the numbers are wrong because the rate has been adjusted in previous months.

Carter told reporters that Deal is making excuses to cover the state's fundamental problems. He says investment in education will have long term impact.