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Will Sandy give President Obama a campaign boost?

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    Bonus points for signing emergency declarations?

  • Duration 7:39
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We also watch the candidates and governor Romney appeared today in Ohio to help collect donations for storm relief.

He canceled a scheduled campaign rally there as well as an event over and Iowa and he encouraged Americans to pitch in on the effort to help the storm victims.

Good morning you guys thank you.

Helping out appreciate that very much -- We have heavy hearts as you know with with all the suffering going -- -- -- major part of our country.

Lot of people heard it this morning they were hurting last night and the storm goes -- I've had the chance to speak with some of the governors in the affected areas and they've talked about a lot of people having hard times and I appreciate the fact that people right here Dayton.

Got up this morning -- went to the grocery -- RC and -- some things that these families will -- and I appreciate your generosity.

It's.

It's part of the American spirit the American way it to give to people who -- in need.

And your generosity this morning touches my heart and I and I appreciate what you've done.

We have a lot of goods here and I know there's more coming in and we're gonna box these things up in just a minute and what -- cement trucks and that we're gonna send them.

Into.

I think it's New Jersey is a site that we've identified that can take these goods -- distributed to people -- -- We won't be able to solve all the problems with our effort this morning a lot of people the most Somalia looking for goods even though we've gathered these things as you know but I.

I I I know that.

One of the things I've learned that life is that you you make the difference you can.

And you can't always solve all the problems yourself but you could make the difference in the life of one or two people.

As a result of one -- two people taking an effort.

Ed Rollins Fox News contributor he was campaign director for the 84 Reagan bush ticket and has had major roles in nine other national campaigns including.

Michelle Bachmann Huckabee campaigns.

And also Susan -- choose a Fox News contributors well and a professor of law and political science at USC she was also the former manager of Michael dukakis' presidential campaign.

So it's interesting to listen to Mitt Romney you know call people to action to try to help the storm victims.

And you know one might be inclined to say that that in and of itself -- a political move because he's a political candidate.

But you know -- he has a long history of trying to help people in need to.

And there is question about whether an event like this really does bring us all together whether you're Democrat or Republican.

Well it should bring us altogether because well Americans and there's a lot of Americans who are hurting.

I thought that was one of the better commentaries -- -- for him that I've seen.

-- long long time and it's very hard to sort of depict him as Axelrod in the present and others have tried to do.

As this insensitive man you see him there and -- as you say he's got a long history.

Volunteers -- -- long history of donating lots of money and being a church leaders so it's it's a good it's a good form.

I think in this campaign though I think he kind of gets frozen we should be put politics aside for a few days -- -- not gonna talk about it for the next three or four days that's a good thing.

And I don't think anybody necessary gains an advantage.

And would have to wait -- city.

If it's frozen Susan I mean how frustrating right to these candidates -- it being frozen they don't want it to be frozen do.

Well I think the president you know I couldn't agree with -- more acted -- daughter in -- storm area and you know.

When you've got family and loved ones in that area you're not thinking Republican or Democrat you thinking.

You know I'd be getting the help they need an -- we are pulling together.

-- for the president you know the president is being president.

And that's.

What he should be doing and you've got people like governor Chris Christie has been very critical of the president saying you know the president's been all over this one -- deserves credit.

So I think the president needs doing what he should be doing right now and frankly it's a delicate situation for Mitt Romney if he looks to political.

People will criticize you -- -- -- when he liberals pointing fingers today and say -- He wanted to help and where did he pick to help.

Go to Ohio to send things to New Jersey but you know he's -- a tough spot this is this is a time when public officials had to be public officials think.

Candidates have to tread carefully what do you think -- that it do you think it do you think Susan's right of people like that -- criticized Mitt Romney for.

Trying to get people to help.

No I think it's very thin line in and Susan and I agree on most most things -- not politics necessary but we're -- for both though both been around a long time understand tactics the critical thing here is you can't look political.

Even the president the president who obviously is the commander in chief has a very important role equally as important the governors are out front -- the ones that are on the line governors mayors in certain places.

And you have to be very careful and you can't run around now and go to the states he's hot spots bring Air Force One bringing on tries again.

Because you be taking police and fire and and the first responders.

Away equally as important as is Susan can tell you -- to trying to get crowds and -- closing part of a campaign ours is a big task.

Takes a lot of communications a lot of volunteers to do that.

And so my sense is they both have to do what they have to do.

For the next three or four days so we'll get through this we -- the weekend and then we'll have the next two days we've run a long campaign here and I think most people pretty much.

But -- deny they are that's interesting I and it.

111 top edge here goes before the show Susan that I wanted to ask you about was he said that.

This storm will have the effect of freezing negative campaign ads because you can't be running those in states that are hit by -- don't wanna hear that kind of own right now do you agree with that.

I think it's true in states -- -- hit but if if you're in a state that's -- you don't want to hear about politics right now.

-- wanna hear about the roads and power cell service and food and water.

I don't think the negative ads are gonna stop in Florida really -- I don't know about some other states but but I think for for areas outside the storm zone you will see negative ads you will not see the president on Air Force One.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Some left leaning groups had just bought some ad time in the critical swing states and don't remember the list -- the top -- -- but I assume that would include North Carolina.

New Hampshire.

And they were calling Mitt Romney an economic trader I mean is that can they run those ads for you haven't met Ronnie encouraging people to help the folks in those states.

And -- -- and the folks in those states are facing the devastation.

You can but I think you waste your money I think at this point in time you can turn ads around very very quickly.

These days I'd make him very positive that make them about volunteers might be about.

A contributing to the Red Cross I'd be about any thing.

And it's a good way to kind of have a different message that makes people pay attention the message the problem is when your wall to wall and he's 22 states and have some kind of a disaster here.

-- gonna pay a -- lot of attention to a political ad it's 22 too crude -- too harsh.

-- the I I don't I only -- -- than a minute left Susan but does this dampen turnout on Tuesday and if so who does that hurt.

Well who knows you know I guess again that I'm with -- on this it's it's hopefully by do you see people who -- electricity in power.

And then it's their choice I think.

It's just going to be on the back burner for the next few days but we're gonna have the weekend and in a funny way -- it points out and he knows better than anyone.

You know that the focus of the campaigns really has to be on the ground game right now.

Not on doing big rallies anyway people who want to vote will vote in the campaigns have tremendous resources on both sides and they'll get their vote out.

I don't worry about that I guess great debate they give us so much -- -- about.