Tuesday morning's torrential downpours may have hampered voter turnout for the primaries but not turnout here at a Tampa job fair geared toward those aged 50 and up. By AARP's count, about 1,000 people came through the four-hour fair and 200 of them took part in seminars to improve their job marketability.

I never cease to be amazed by the resiliency and determination of long-term unemployed. Getting discouraged after months or often more than a year of searching would be understandable. The latest numbers on job creation and home sales point to some rough months ahead.

Yet, many I've talked to at this fair and a string of earlier ones are remarkably upbeat. They're willing to be retrained in another career and open to industries they'd never even thought of. Many have cited an optimism that America will rebound, that the economy is always cyclical. Many cite strong religious beliefs that they'll be O.K. in the long run, calling the economic downturn a blessing in one way: They have greater appreciation for family, friends, and faith.