Obama skips Fla. stop, heads home to deal with Hurricane Sandy

Updated 9:55 a.m. ET

The balancing act between campaigning and dealing with a natural disaster the week before a presidential election is a vexing one, considering there's no precedent for it.  In the latest example of juggling both, President Obama made a last-minute decision this morning to fly back to the White House and forgo the one campaign stop he kept on his schedule for today.

After initially announcing that he would skip his Ohio stop later today but still attend a campaign event in Orlando, Fla., a key spot in an important battleground state, the president flew to Orlando Sunday night to be in place for this morning's event.

• Hurricane Sandy gains strength on East Coast path
• Obama visits FEMA, says Hurricane Sandy resources are in place

There was a change of heart this morning: "Due to deteriorating weather in the Washington area, the President will no longer attend today's campaign event in Orlando," White House spokesman Jay Carney said in a statement. "The President will return to Washington to monitor the preparations for and response to Hurricane Sandy."

The White House also announced this morning that Mr. Obama will skip his scheduled campaign event in Green Bay, Wis., tomorrow night, completely clearing his entire campaign schedule Monday and Tuesday.

"The President will no longer travel to Green Bay, WI tomorrow for a campaign event, so that he can stay in Washington, DC on Tuesday and closely monitor the impact of and response to Hurricane Sandy," the White House said in a statement. "As he said at FEMA HQ yesterday, the President has instructed his team to make sure that needed federal resources are in place to support state and local recovery efforts."

Meantime, Vice President Joe Biden will step in for the president today at his previously scheduled Youngstown, Ohio rally with former President Bill Clinton.  Mitt Romney will keep his campaign schedule, visiting Ohio, Iowa and Wisconsin today.  His running mate Paul Ryan is in Florida for the day.

CBS News' Chloe Arensberg contributed to this report

[mikesfilms]

ENERGY:

LIE: Obama's bad for oil: (AP 10/24/12): "Oil production surging to record high," "fourth straight year of crude increases." Thank you Obama. US soon to overtake Saudi Arabia as 1st world producer. Desperate Romney spewing hogwash. Keep the Recovery going. Don't change Obama for a Scheme Bag.

LIE: I'm good for Oil. Big-Oil Romney wants to be a Dictator. Drill-baby-drill in Alaska and everywhere, without regulations, against the 99% of the locals' wish. Never mind Exxon Valdez and Gulf's Great Spill. We live in Obama's democracy not in Romney's Tyranny. He bought the Candidacy and thinks he can buy everything. VOTE FOR ME SUCKERS.

[ThatOnePerson1994]

Its very funny, because the same **** that most of these people are saying about President Obama, is the same **** that they would say about Mitt if he was the president. Its the the same crap over and over again. People always believe in the beginning that this candidate is the best choice for office, but in the end, they always turn their back on the person they chose for president putting blame on them for whats occurring and how they aren't doing what they promised. However, there only so much the president can do in four years. President Obama didn't cause the recession, he came into office when it was happening. Also there is only so much the president can do to fix it in four years. Plus he cant pass certain laws without the approval of congress so of course that puts him a step back. So before everyone goes around blaming this person and that person, in the end you will just be another hypocrite, because no matter who the president is the same **** that your saying now, will be coming out your mouth for whoever will be our president, whether its Mitt or President Obama.

[EllenintheWest]

Scary how many people are so creepy as to criticize the President for what he is doing to help. As for Romney calling FEMA, it is awful how he has tried to look presidential in foreign trips, social events, etc. He needs to stay out of the way. I am surprised that he and Anne haven't already taken over the White House that Cheney promised him.

[opedanderson2]

Nice try CBS. He didn't "skip" the event, he in fact flew down fully intending to do it even though the warnings about disaster were well covered in the media. Someone on his staff had to point out to him that this was probably not a great idea and he turned the plane around.

$100K pr day on AF1 alone.....

Keep bailing for him CBS.

[BiKlein]

@ActorZero, not phony at all. Quite accurate. And, given that Obama is about to lose Florida by 7 points, a realistic and necessary decision by his campaign. I'm not voting for him but I don't fault him for making a rational decision. If I'm wrong, then Obama will make a trip at least once to Florida in the next 5 days. Don't count on it, though.

[57Chamorro]

Finally, POTUS at work. It's about time.

[mikesosa1]

Thank God CBS is still all in for Obama when Romney wins I hope he ignores them completely. CBS your backing the wrong candidiate. Gallup Romney up by 6%. CBS get on the side of a winner not loser Obama.

[Henri_Rochard]

I hope to God that the popular vote and Electoral College have the same result.
I can only imagine the National gridlock that will happen otherwise.

[cindmerv]

I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY YOU DO NOT REPORT ON THE MURDER OF THOSE POOR PEOPLE IN LIBYA,,,,WHY, OH WHY ARE YOU PROTCTING ODUMBO IS BEYOND ME.....I HAVE STOPPED WATCHING YOUR NETWORK,,,,YOU ARE NOT FAIR AND BALANCED.....I KNOW YOU WONT COMMENT,, BUT, I HAD TO EXPRESS MY THOUGHTS. HE SHOULD BE IMPEACHED AND CLINTON FIRED,,,,PLEASE, PLEASE REPORT THE TRUTH AND GROW SOME BALLS

[A_Moderate]

I HAVE STOPPED WATCHING YOUR NETWORK,,,,YOU ARE NOT FAIR AND BALANCED..... That's your loss. But I bet you probably get your info from *** news. That's their slogan "Fair and Balanced".

REPORT THE TRUTH?? AS WHO SEES IT??????

You want to talk about TRUTH and COVER UP's let's talk about Mitt's tax returns... Tax Experts are already 'Skeptical' Of Mitt Romney's Taxes.

[Rafterman11]

The media doesn't exist in order to serve right wing hit squad needs.

[Neo-Communist-Democrats]

Obama had no choice put to stop his campaigning or he would still be out there pandering for votes. This headline makes it seem as if stopped out of concern for people in Sandy's path.
He doesn't care about people if it interferes with his campaigning.
The Benghazi fiasco and and cover up if proof of that..

[A_Moderate]

"Benghazi" is a matter of opinion. Mostly being fanned by the right's media.

If you expect Obama to explain Benghazi, maybe you should explain why we went to war to catch OBL, went to Iraq, wasted billions (sorry Trillions) of dollars, had over 5000 men/women die? After all you probably voted republican and for the guy who did this? Where are the WMD's Neo-Communist-Democrats ??

[A_Moderate]

"Obama had no choice put to stop his campaigning or he would still be out there pandering for votes."

Meanwhile, Mitt was in Ohio today saying "we face violent jihadists" Let's start beating the war drums again Mitt. I don't think this country can afford you or your policy's!!!!!!!

[D-E-photographer]

Consider that Romney is a total fraud...a phony...an actor playing a role. He says whatever he thinks will help him win. (and he changes what he says as he perceives what people want to hear changes). The only core beliefs he has are 1. The wealthy know best and should run things and 2. Everybody else should just go along with whatever comes their way.
He will drive this countryl into the ground and we will all be very sorry if he gets elected.

[democracy8]

Yep. "Serfs up!"

[cindmerv]

OH??? AND IF ODUMBO GETS RE ELECTED, YOU WILL HAVE FOUR MORE YEARS OF LYING AND COVER UP,, LIKE LIBYA.....HE IS A LIAR AND A MURDERER,,,WHAT IF IT WERE YOUR BROTHER, FATHER OR SON WHO CRIED FOR HELP AND YOU SAID,,I HAVE TO GO ON LETTERMAN SHOW, CAN'T BE BOTHERED.....HE SHOULD BE IMPEACHED AND CLINTON FIRED. I AM A DEMOCRAT AND AM ASHAMED OF HIM....GO MITT

[JohnQPublic12]

Oh what a shame, he actually has to play President for a day.