As tall trees appear sprawled across the East Coast and water is found in every crevice, many look on terrified at the havoc that Hurricane Sandy has brought across New York and the East Coast. Since the 2012 Election is a mere day away, could the way that each candidate handles this hurricane pose an invisible test and affect the outcome of this razor thin presidential race?
This hurricane is certainly an opportunity for President Obama to prove that he can take necessary action, make good choices in a time of crisis, and, most importantly, serve as our leader. Upon hearing of the storm, Mr. Obama stopped campaigning and went straight back to Washington, D.C. to address the storm from the White House. He stayed in Washington and contacted individual states to determine their overall status, and he issued federal aid when asked.
Governor Romney attended a campaign in Ohio, a swing state where his campaign sought goods and relief for those affected by the storm. Mr. Obama took a visit to New Jersey on October 31st to survey the damage of the extremely hard-hit state and thank first responders. Mr. Romney, however, is said to have continued on the campaign trail with three events in Florida. When asked about the election, the president insisted that “The election will take care of itself next week,” in an effort to put the election aside while he focuses on Sandy.
In the aftermath of the monstrous hurricane, many states such as New Jersey are depending on Federal Management Emergency Agency (FEMA) for recovery aid. At a debate in June, when Mr. Romney was asked about the federal government’s role in disaster relief efforts, he said, “We cannot afford to do those things [have the government put out money for disaster relief] without jeopardizing the future for our kids. 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.” Notably, after being struck by Sandy, Mr. Romney changed course, “I believe that FEMA plays a key role in working with states and localities to prepare for and respond to natural disasters… As president, I will ensure FEMA has the funding it needs to fulfill its mission, while directing maximum resources to the first responders who work tirelessly to help those in need, because states and localities are in the best position to get aid to the individuals and communities affected by natural disasters.”
Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey, a harsh critic of Mr. Obama, praised the president’s actions in the midst of this storm. While Mr. Obama is a candidate for the election, he is still our president, and he fulfilled his presidential duties by returning to Washington, staying informed, contacting all state mayors and governors, and then taking on-the-ground trips to hurricane affected communities.
Mr. Obama’s name is all over the news for the command he has taken post-Sandy as commander-in-chief, while Mr. Romney remains a little pushed to the side. Will the actions of each candidate in response to the hurricane sway voters, especially those who were affected most by Sandy?