As superstorm Sandy has caused widespread damage and power outages across the East Coast, it has also impacted the presidential campaigns of President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney just a week before Election Day. President Obama was off the campaign trail and canceled events in battleground states to monitor the storm and federal response from Washington. Meanwhile, Romney changed an intended campaign rally to a “storm relief event” in Ohio, urging Americans to donate to the American Red Cross and help the East Coast.  Both candidates are avoiding the appearance of putting politics before the needs of Americans and remaining sensitive to the effects of the storm. The storm has halted early voting in several states. Above left: President Obama at the White House to monitor preparations for the early response to Hurricane Sandy on Monday; above right: Mitt Romney held a storm relief event in Kettering, Ohio.

As superstorm Sandy has caused widespread damage and power outages across the East Coast, it has also impacted the presidential campaigns of President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney just a week before Election Day.

President Obama was off the campaign trail and canceled events in battleground states to monitor the storm and federal response from Washington. Meanwhile, Romney changed an intended campaign rally to a “storm relief event” in Ohio, urging Americans to donate to the American Red Cross and help the East Coast. 

Both candidates are avoiding the appearance of putting politics before the needs of Americans and remaining sensitive to the effects of the storm. The storm has halted early voting in several states.

Above left: President Obama at the White House to monitor preparations for the early response to Hurricane Sandy on Monday; above right: Mitt Romney held a storm relief event in Kettering, Ohio.

election 2012 mitt romney obama politics sandy