US ELECTION 2012_ Will Sandy change the game for Obama and Romney?

Will Sandy change the game for Obama and Romney?


FRANCE 24 International News
Latest update: 30/10/2012

 


US President Barack Obama has much to gain – and a lot more to lose – in his response to "super storm" Sandy, currently battering the US East Coast. Political analyst Larry Sabato tells FRANCE 24 what’s at stake.


By Jon FROSCH / Julien PEYRON reporting from Miami, Florida (text)

"Super storm" Sandy, currently wreaking havoc across the East Coast of the USA, is blowing an uncomfortable wind of uncertainty into the US presidential campaign that threatens incumbent Barack Obama more than his Republican opponent Mitt Romney, says political analyst Larry Sabato.


USA US Northeast in lockdown as
Hurricane Sandy bears down


And while the US authorities will be doing their utmost to deal with the social and economic fallout of such an unpredictable event, all eyes will be on the two candidates’ reactions.

Obama, who was due in Florida, a key swing state, on Monday, has returned to Washington to coordinate the response, while former Democrat President Bill Clinton has stepped into his campaigning shoes and will represent the president at a meeting in Orlando.

Romney meanwhile has cancelled campaign rallies in New Hampshire and Virginia, arriving instead in Ohio on Sunday, another vital swing state, and is due in battleground states Iowa and Wisconsin in the coming days.


Larry Sabato, head of University of Virgina’s Center for Politics, tells FRANCE 24 what’s at stake for the two candidates.


FRANCE 24: How could super storm Sandy impact President Obama's chances?




USA Coast Guard rescues Bounty crew as Sandy closes in


Larry Sabato: It’s the classic double-edged sword of governing. Obama can assume a take-charge posture as the incumbent president but he’s also responsible for all foul-ups in disaster relief. And you don’t want dissatisfied, surly people voting if you’re the incumbent. It all depends on how many people are truly affected in the aftermath and how quickly their needs can be met. My assumption is that the Obama team understands the stakes and is gearing up a massive rescue and relief effort, to the extent possible.



F24: What about Romney? How does this impact him in states he needs? Will his reaction be closely watched?


LS: For Romney, he’s left on the sidelines, expressing sympathy for victims, but he can make gestures such as encouraging contributions to disaster agencies. Of course, he benefits from lingering problems.


F24: What's the worst-case scenario for either of these candidates?


LS: For Obama, the worst-case scenario is that the lingering effects of the storm in Virginia hamper his ground game, helping Romney win a state where the momentum has already been trending the Republican’s way.



Potomac River in Alexandria, Virginia by DelRayPatch (Instagram).




Chân thành cám ơn Quý Anh Chị ghé thăm "conbenho Nguyễn Hoài Trang Blog".
Xin được lắng nghe ý kiến chia sẻ của Quý Anh Chị trực tiếp tại Diễn Đàn Paltalk: 1Latdo Tapdoan Vietgian CSVN Phanquoc Bannuoc .
Kính chúc Sức Khỏe Quý Anh Chị .




conbenho
Tiểu Muội quantu
Nguyễn Hoài Trang
30102012
___________
Cộng sản Việt Nam là TỘI ÁC
Bao che, dung dưỡng TỘI ÁC là đồng lõa với TỘI ÁC