Obama cancels third day of campaigning to deal with Sandy

After canceling his appearance at a morning campaign rally in Orlando, Fla., President Obama walks into the White House in a driving rain after returning to Washington to monitor preparations for early response to Hurricane Sandy, Monday, Oct. 29, 2012. / AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

Superstorm Sandy caused President Obama to sideline a third day of campaigning, cancelling his trip to Ohio Wednesday where he was expected to host two rallies there. Instead, he will remain at the White House to "monitor the response" to the storm, according to a White House statement.

"The President will remain in Washington, DC on Wednesday to monitor the response to Hurricane Sandy and ensure that all available federal resources continue to be provided to support ongoing state and local recovery efforts," the White House said.

It is unclear which of Mr. Obama's supporters - if any - will replace him at the Ohio rallies. Former President Bill Clinton is attending two rallies in Minnesota on Mr. Obama's behalf today and although Vice President Joe Biden's rallies today were cancelled, he is scheduled to head to the battleground states of Florida and Iowa later this week.

The Romney campaign, meanwhile, cancelled all but one event today - his campaign hastily organized a Sandy-related charity event in Ohio - and has announced that Romney will hold campaign rallies in Florida on Wednesday. Meantime, his wife Ann and his running mate Paul Ryan are attending events set up to gather donations and supplies for the victims of Sandy.

Attending to the storm, the president received another briefing Tuesday morning from key federal officials, including FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. He was updated on Sandy's path, the impacts of the storm and the deployment of government resources. The White House released a new picture of the president's briefing in the Situation Room at the White House.

According to the White House, the president expressed sadness for those who lost their lives and commended the first responders. He also said the government administrators' "top priority" is to ensure all resources are made available. He directed them to offer support local, state and private sector efforts. Additionally, he spoke with Govs. Andrew Cuomo, D-N.Y. and Chris Christie, R-N.J., last night and will be in touch with appropriate state and local officials again this afternoon, the White House said.

[GOP-R--Con-Men]

President Obama wanted to update America's power grid (in part by burying power lines) and transportation systems including from New York to New Jersey but congressional republicans and Chris Christie blocked him on both counts. The irony of it all, further proof and reason not to vote for republicans.

[57Chamorro]

Doesn't it make you wonder why personnel at Benghazi were denied help? The administration "witnessed" the slaying of the attack and did nothing although help was prepared to assist and was not too far away. Could it be that the administration did not want any survivors in fear of them revealing the truth behind the Benghazi attack and what led up to it?

[VapeGirl]

Romney was asked repeatedly, while in Ohio, if he still believes that FEMA should be eliminated in light of the devastation rought by Sandy. He finally responded and said, yes, it should be eliminated. He said the individual states are more than capable of handling disasters.

He is an idiot.

He hasn't even seen the amount of damage that was caused to the eastern half of the US yet. This storm may go down in US history as the most costly storm ever. Does Romney think these states can still handle this level of disasters all on their own without Governmental help?

His answer, "We cannot -- we cannot afford to do those things without jeopardizing the future for our kids," Romney continued, when asked specifically about disaster relief. "It is simply immoral, in my view, for us to continue to rack up larger and larger debts and pass them on to our kids, knowing full well that we'll all be dead and gone before it's paid off. It makes no sense at all."

[ManOfSteel-Velvet]

VapeGirl: He Romney)is an idiot.
___________

You are being too generous. Being an idiot still implies there is some level of thinking involved.

[Steve_James]

Isn't it funny how Obama likes the camera. He's all too happy to stand in the situation room and look all "presidential" like he's concerned about the storm victims...like he doesn't want another Katrina...(all for political gain mind you). Anything to take the focus off his failures. My question is, where were you Mr. Obama when dozens of Americans were under attack in Libya and you denied assistance? Were you fast asleep in bed or did you just simply watch them die as live video feed was aired in the situation room? I believe the answer to that is BOTH! We won't forget that issue, as much as you're trying to bury your lies and distortions.

[VapeGirl]

So Steve, why aren't you angry with Bush? Bush let Louisiana rot after Katrina. And if you want to bring up Libya, why not bring up 9/11? Bush knew that Al Qaeda was planning an attack in Feb of 2001. Feb?! Then he was given another report in May. Then again he was warned that an attack was imminent in August of 2001. He was warned 3 times and each time he decided to just sit on the information. Because of negligence - over 3000+ plus Americans died. It was the worse attack on American soil since Pearl Harbor. Where is your anger for that?

[m577a2]

Doing what a good president should do, kudos Obama. I shudder to think what that lying draft dodger Rmoney would do, likely the same thing Dubya did, fly over in a helicopter then go back to the ranch to clear some brush and say "Youre doing a hell of a job Browney", as the chaos got worse and worse. Rmoney would definitely not take a chance on getting his $1500 shoes dirty.

[Steve_James]

Isn't it funny how Obama likes the camera. He's all too happy to stand in the situation room and look all "presidential" like he's concerned about the storm victims...like he doesn't want another Katrina...(all for political gain mind you). Anything to take the focus off his failures. My question is, where were you Mr. Obama when dozens of Americans were under attack in Libya and you denied assistance? Were you fast asleep in bed or did you just simply watch them die as live video feed was aired in the situation room? I believe the answer to that is BOTH! We won't forget that issue, as much as you're trying to bury your lies and distortions.

[m577a2]

Why do you re-post the same thing? Oh, because you have no facts, I see. How is Obama a failure after saving us from another great depression that Dubya and the republicans tried VERY hard to stick us with? Obama has thrown a monkey wrench in the republican's plans by NOT being a failure, even after the republicans try their hardest to obstruct him at every opportunity without a care for the country. Sick bunch of America hating racists.

[D_dubya]

The Obama campaign has not suspended its efforts, Obama's surrogates are out there. I just wish Obama had canceled a fundraiser in Las Vegas on the day the bodies came back from Benghazi.

[m577a2]

You are a liar, he was there to greet the bodies. It was the family members of the dead Americans who had to speak up and tell Rmoney to stop lying and politicizing their loss. Guess Rmoney doesn't care about anything but getting into power so he can reward his rich lying banker buddies.

[57Chamorro]

He went to Las Vegas because the attack was a "Spontaneous reaction to a Muslim offensive Video and that it was not optimum and therefore, campaigning in Las Vegas was OK."