Hurricane Sandy Forces Obama, Romney Campaigns to Call Audibles

Hurricane Sandy has forced the Romney and Obama campaigns to call audibles and adjust their schedules as the Category 1 hurricane comes closer to hitting landfall in the final week the campaign. 

The Obama campaign cancelled Obama’s campaign appearances in Florida on Sunday, Virginia on Monday, and Colorado and Wisconsin on Tuesday so he could monitor Hurricane Sandy at the White House. The Obama campaign said the status Obama’s campaign schedule is “day-to-day.” 

The Romney campaign cancelled Tuesday campaign appearances in Iowa and Wisconsin. 

Romney campaigned in Ohio on Sunday with Paul Ryan and has also been in touch with Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, two prominent supporters of his, about storm preparations.

The Romney campaign used its campaign bus to collect relief supplies to distribute to people whose lives will be impacted by Sandy on Sunday and cancelled campaign appearances in Virginia and New Hampshire. Hours after the Romney campaign announced it would cease sending fundraising e-mails in states impacted by Sandy, the Obama campaign followed suit.

Romney also released a letter to those in Sandy’s path, writing he and Ann were “keeping the people in Hurricane Sandy’s path in our thoughts and prayers.” The former Governor urged those in affected regions to “reach out to your neighbors who may need help getting ready for the storm — especially your elderly neighbors.”

Romney also asked Americans to consider donating time or resources to the Red Cross and, as a practical matter, asked supporters to “bring any yard signs inside” because in “high winds they can be dangerous, and cause damage to homes and property.” Romney also has a promotion box on his website people can click to donate to the Red Cross. 

Both campaigns, though, have plenty of surrogates campaigning in battleground states.

First Lady Michelle Obama will make two campaign stops in Iowa on Monday, two days after Iowa’s most prominent newspaper, the left-of-center Des Moines Register, endorsed Romney over the weekend. 

Jill Biden will make two campaign stops in Colorado while her husband, Vice President Joe Biden, and Bill Clinton campaign for Obama in Ohio Monday.

Ann Romney will make two campaign stops in Michigan while Paul Ryan makes three campaign stops in Florida on Monday before heading to Colorado, where he will campaign on Tuesday.