Clinton responds: "Today's dismal jobless claims report is a reminder that we are in the midst of a growing economic crisis and Senator McCain has yet to answer the call of economic leadership."
Obama responds: Figures "the latest indicator of how badly America needs fundamental change from Bush-McCain policies that have been devastating for working families."
Number of new applications for unemployment benefits jump to 407,000 for the week ending March 29.
AP: "It's fresh evidence of the damage to the national economy clobbered by housing, credit and financial crises."
