(RALEIGH) -- Republican State Senator David Rouzer is vying for the 7th district congressional seat currently held by Democrat Mike McIntyre.   Rouzer said with the current national jobless rate standing at 8.3 percent, creating jobs is job one.

"One of the things that we have to do at the federal level is we've got to get our hands around all of this excessive spending.  In fact, we've got cut spending, I personally believe, at the federal level.  Less spending and lower taxes create jobs," said Rouzer.

Rouzer said his campaign's latest poll data shows a close race for McIntyre in the redrawn 7th district, which stretches from Johnston County to Wilmington.