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Campaigns slowly resume following Hurricane Sandy

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    What are presidential candidates doing?

  • Duration 6:27
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Both campaigns of course have had to change their strategies change their itineraries as a result of the super storm.

That slammed into the northeast.

Many of the travel plans that President Obama.

And governor Romney had had intended to make.

Well it resulted in something of a political impact.

Let's talk about it now with.

A couple of people who have watched these campaigns.

Mary Katharine Ham is the editor at large of hot air dot com also -- Fox News contributor Simon Rosenberg.

The president and founder of the new Democrat network a former Clinton Campaign advisor.

So you heard governor Romney there in Florida Florida has had its share of of misery I mean I was living there when hurricane Andrew hit.

How do you conduct a political campaign in this environment Simon.

You know when so many people are hurting have no power the last thing they hear want to hear on television or on the radio is another attack yet.

Well I think -- the president is being the president mean he's out obviously red cross and FEMA.

And he's clearly leading the recovery effort right now and I and I think he has.

A little bit of a Politico -- political advantage over Mitt Romney in the sense that that -- he's just a candidate trying to talk about what's going on when the president has.

The advantage of actually you know being responsible for the recovery effort right now and I think he's doing -- good job I think it has been praised.

By Republicans and Democrats alike over the last few days.

Having been responsive to their needs he's going up to New Jersey with Chris Christie today to seek to take a personal inspection what's going on.

But clearly this is this is change the race a little bit.

And I think at the end of the day this will only be an -- for Barack Obama if there's a perception that the recovery has been well handled.

And and it's not about pictures it's about outcomes and you know we've got five days to see if it does a good job.

-- does the public Mary -- reach out and and rapped the president in in the warm embrace of a job well done a nation coming together in time of crisis.

We I I think that this is a concern for both campaigns because any human being and I do include politicians and those of us who pay attention to politics when he -- today narrowly in that category human beings -- the main concern is the folks on the ground -- -- hurt and making sure they get.

Served and get back on their feet as soon as possible in these communities so I think that's the number one concern and as part of that concern.

It's necessary to tamp down I think some of the partisan tone has been has been soft -- in the past couple days on the Mitt Romney trail.

Obama of course back in Washington dealing with sandy response and I do think there are advantages to incumbency he can do the Red Cross touring -- -- New Jersey and and do that and be seen.

As in charge of this situation it -- matter how well the federal government responds I'm not sure that in five days you find out whether they responded well or not but there's been a fairly decent record.

And Missouri at an -- in these tornadoes of 2011.

The oil -- it's slightly different story.

But I I'm not sure that will affect the election but I -- think that.

That people can hear these messages in the campaign can be ongoing thing for Obama is that he's off the trail.

Where I think he's actually generally stronger than Romney -- so that might hurt him a tiny bit.

It is not -- -- exactly perfect parallel but something like this -- late in the campaign of 2008.

When the financial crisis hit.

John McCain decided to suspend his campaign let's take -- for your flashback now.

Tomorrow morning.

I'll suspend my campaign and return to Washington after speaking at the Clinton Global Initiative.

I've spoken to Senator Obama and informed him of my decision.

I've asked him to join me.

I'm calling on the president.

To convene a leadership meeting.

From both houses of congress.

Including Senator Obama and myself.

It's time for both parties to come together.

To solve this problem.

It's my belief that this is exactly the time when the American people need to hear.

From.

But the person who in approximately forty days will be responsible for dealing -- this -- And I think that it is.

It is.

Going to be part of the president's job.

To deal would more than one thing at once.

And Senator Obama answering John McCain's call to get off of the campaign trail.

It seemed like a McCain's campaign never really recovered from that time away.

Are there parallels here Mary -- are there warnings for each side.

Well I think it's a bit in light of this console it's a little ironic for folks on the left to.

Go after Romney for being on the trail -- all I think think.

The country is.

More than capable of having to conversations caring for its citizens and also talking about election at same time I think McCain's problem with -- that he.

And suspended the campaign didn't didn't suit didn't seem to have a plan once he got to Washington that was what he was.

Roundly criticized for but you know I think.

You do get into a situation where -- ironically politicizing by arguing that someone else is politicizing when -- that you had folks on the left go after -- for having a disaster response as part of a campaign rally where people were bringing stuff in -- to red cross and I just think -- get into some sticky business.

It's a long way from from Florida where Mitt Romney is now talking -- then you know -- the last four years in this these economic doldrums we've been -- Simon the president is going to have to deal with that.

Well he's back on the campaign trail tomorrow -- -- he's been he suspended his campaign in essence for three days and but back to his day job which is actually being president and it states.

And has done and has been -- -- again by governors and terrorism.

Both parties for the for the government's response during this crisis and obviously all of our hearts and mines go out to all the people in the in the afflicted areas of the United States but I think we'll look we're back full bore campaign tomorrow.

We've got a few days left Democrats feel really good about where we are right now the polls last couple days.

We're very strong for the president we'll -- I don't know -- very close election is going to be very close election.

Good -- -- literally there are now live computers about coming out Mary Katharine -- Simon Rosenberg thank you.

-- think guys.

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