Obama solidifies re-election bid with response to Sandy

Katherine Johnson
Columnist

Hurricane Sandy has impacted those along the East Coast as well as politicians on the campaign trail. With the presidential election just days away when Sandy made landfall, campaigning was put aside by both candidates and relief efforts were prioritized. For the first time in months, the news wasn’t focused on politics.

While governors and mayors of states heavily hit by the storm say this is no time for politics, it would be silly to ignore the potential impact Sandy could have on the outcome on Nov. 6. Voters in states like New York and New Jersey may set their priorities elsewhere on Election Day and not even cast a ballot. Or they may be more inclined to vote for Obama, who has received praise for his handling of the disaster by key politicians like Chris Christie and Michael Bloomberg.

According to NBC, those in New York and New Jersey who were hit the hardest may not have power for another 10 days. In addition to these outages, some people will have to evaluate the damage to their homes, or salvage what they can. Because of this, voters’ priorities have shifted.

Families are focused on taking care of their children, getting in touch with insurance companies and picking up the pieces. The election is probably one of the last things on their minds. This could possibly hurt Obama, as New York and New Jersey both lean left.

Public transportation is still mostly out in New York City, crippling voters who planned to venture to distant polling stations. Subways are now making limited runs to suburban areas, but for the most part, service is still out in the city.

If voters face limited transportation options, they may not be able to get to their voting districts. This, of course, is further impeded by having no electricity nor a home. Not only voters, but also those who operate the polls will face problems getting to where they need to be on Election Day.

On the other hand, Hurricane Sandy may help Obama win his re-election campaign, if voters from the affected areas approve of his recovery efforts. Even though he canceled several campaign stops, he had the nation’s attention as citizens looked for guidance after the storm. Republican challenger Mitt Romney was hardly mentioned in news coverage and two influential politicians praised the president, one of which endorsed him for a second term after the storm.

New Jersey’s governor, Chris Christie, praised Obama for his help and concern. Christie, a Romney supporter who was the keynote speaker at the Republican National Convention, was first to say party affiliations don’t matter in the wake of a disaster.

However, the media has emphasized Christie’s kind words for the president. The Washington Post reported on Christie’s personal calls with the president and both toured the destruction together.
Residents of New Jersey and those in swing states like ours that are undecided could side with the president after Sandy, especially if they approve of what he’s doing to help and the disaster relief efforts.
One thing the country isn’t seeing is a repeat of Hurricane Katrina and the mess that ensued.  Obama has proven that he is fit to lead after a devastating storm. The support of a devout Republican such as Christie is also invaluable to Obama in his re-election efforts.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City went so far as to endorse Obama after the storm. Bloomberg, an independent, believes Obama would be the better candidate to handle climate change, according to the New York Times.

Bloomberg’s name is nationally known and respected. His endorsement may not have been necessary for voters in the city, but again, Obama received positive attention in the media leading up to Nov. 6.

These endorsements could be critical in getting voters on Obama’s side. After the storm, he was able to display his leadership skills and prove that he can handle a crisis with grace. Republicans or independents that doubted Obama may have gained more respect for him after Christie’s positive words. Overall, Obama’s efforts showed that he is willing to work across party lines to do what’s best for the country and its citizens.

Romney has spoken out against the role of the federal government and the debt amassed by it, which also includes disaster relief provided by FEMA. Romney made the statements during a Republican primary debate when he was trying to become the party’s nominee, according to CBS News. Since Sandy, the Romney campaign has faced negative attention as the media refocused on those statements.

Once again though, Romney changed his stance to assure voters that he would not cut the program. His previous position would have cost him votes after the devastation, and further enforced the image of an unrelatable, uncaring person.

Although Sandy hit at an inconvenient time for Obama and Romney, the president may actually come out on top. As the nation’s focus turned to the storm and recovery, it was also placed on our president. Obama effectively demonstrated his leadership skills as well as his personal concern for all that were affected. For those who were undecided, this was a game changer.