# Could Hurricane Sandy actually sway the election? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 25, 2012, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-hurricane-sandy-actually-sway-the-election/638867 "2012-10-25T20:57:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-hurricane-sandy-actually-sway-the-election/638867/81 "2012-10-30T12:49:56Z")
No doubt both campaigns are literally looking towards November. Today and tommorow they will both, of course, help with the hurricane efforts. Today and tommorow they will both - quitely - draw a ‘November’ strategy. First, there is the East Coast with states effected by Hurricane Sandy. Obama has the advantage of being President and assisting with the hurricane efforts in those states but he needs to be careful balancing assisting and campaigning. Romney won’t be able to balance the fine line between assisting and campaigning (in fact, he isn’t) – front page of _The New York Times_: two stories about the hurricane, a story about Libya, and - what’s this? - a story about Obama being attacked on auto bailout. :smack: In November, Obama and Romney will likely campaign in Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Ohio. They already were campaigning in Ohio instead of campaigning in Virginia. Finally, let’s not forget the states on the West Coast. There’s the advantage of no awkwardness as campaigning on the East Coast would be. Also, there’s the advantage of saying that America comes together, that the folks on the West Coast help the folks on the East Coast. The larger issue is, obviously, the actual voting on Election Day. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-hurricane-sandy-actually-sway-the-election/638867/82 "2012-10-30T13:22:10Z")
> [@Kozmik](#): > > In November, Obama and Romney will likely campaign in Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Ohio. They already were campaigning in Ohio instead of campaigning in Virginia. Why would Obama (or Romney) campaign in Kentucky and Tennessee now? If he has to stay away from the East Coast, then aside from Ohio, surely his time is better spent in Colorado, Nevada, or Iowa, all states where he has slim leads he needs to protect. Or Florida, for that matter, which is eastern but unaffected by the storm, and which if he can flip back into his column effectively wins the election. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-hurricane-sandy-actually-sway-the-election/638867/83 "2012-10-30T13:36:59Z")
I was quite pleased to see [Gov. Christie put election year politics aside and praise Obama for how he’s handled storm preparations.](http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/gov-christie-obama-deserves-great-credit-for-storm) > [@](#): > > “I can’t thank the president enough for that,” Christie said, referring to the major disaster declaration Obama signed for New Jersey, expediting federal aid to the state. “Cooperation from the president of the United States has been outstanding. He deserves great credit.” I saw the news conference this came from and it was quite extraordinary. It wasn’t backhanded, or couched in some other criticism. Just genuine candor about how well Obama handled prep for Sandy. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-hurricane-sandy-actually-sway-the-election/638867/84 "2012-10-30T13:56:28Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > I saw the news conference this came from and it was quite extraordinary. It wasn’t backhanded, or couched in some other criticism. Just genuine candor about how well Obama handled prep for Sandy. And it will not go unpunished. ---
**Author:** ![Belowjob2.0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Belowjob2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belowjob2.0)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-hurricane-sandy-actually-sway-the-election/638867/85 "2012-10-30T14:03:15Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I would suspect that suppressing voter turnout on November 3 won’t affect the election much. Well, there’s the goofball vote. It’s on Tuesday, anyway. I know it’s on Tuesday! ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-hurricane-sandy-actually-sway-the-election/638867/86 "2012-10-30T14:43:58Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > And it will not go unpunished. The cynic in my says that Christie knows Obama is going to win a second term (like most intelligent election watchers do) and is positioning himself as the bipartisan healer for 2016. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-hurricane-sandy-actually-sway-the-election/638867/87 "2012-10-30T14:50:44Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > The cynic in my says that Christie knows Obama is going to win a second term (like most intelligent election watchers do) and is positioning himself as the bipartisan healer for 2016. Bingo. I mean, I’m not saying the feelings aren’t genuine. But expressing them publicly is something that from a political standpoint makes sense if he’s considering a 2016 run, which frankly I can’t imagine he isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-hurricane-sandy-actually-sway-the-election/638867/88 "2012-10-30T15:08:52Z")
No link, but apparently Obama had hired Jeb Bush’s hurricane planning expert for FEMA. ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-hurricane-sandy-actually-sway-the-election/638867/89 "2012-10-30T15:09:16Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Why would Obama (or Romney) campaign in Kentucky and Tennessee now? If he has to stay away from the East Coast, then aside from Ohio, surely his time is better spent in Colorado, Nevada, or Iowa, all states where he has slim leads he needs to protect. Or Florida, for that matter, which is eastern but unaffected by the storm, and which if he can flip back into his column effectively wins the election. Because, assuming that they resume campaigning on November 1, the last thing that Obama wants to make it look like is that he he desperate for (electoral) votes. George W. Bush showed his confidence in 2000 by campaigning in California even though he probably knew it would not make a difference. And, this time, Obama can campaign in California (and Colorado, Nevada and Iowa) and emphasize that the West Coast helps the East Coast, that America comes together. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-hurricane-sandy-actually-sway-the-election/638867/90 "2012-10-30T15:17:40Z")
[More on Christie](http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/10/30/christie-praises-obama-doesnt-give-a-damn-about-romney-photo-op/), Romney tried to set up a photo-op w/ the Governor this morning to survey the hurricane damage together. Christie declined, and had this exchange on Fox News: > [@](#): > > “Over the last couple of months, you have appeared throughout the country, Governor, on behalf of Mitt Romney,” Doocy remarked to Christie. “[W]e hear that perhaps Mr. Romney may do some storm-related events. Is there any possibility that Gov. Romney may go to New Jersey to tour some of the damage with you?” > > “I have no idea, nor am I the least bit concerned or interested,” Christie replied, immediately shutting down the idea. “I’ve got a job to do here in New Jersey that’s much bigger than presidential politics and I could [sic] care less about any of that stuff.” > > “I have a job to do,” he added. “I’ve got 2.4 million people out of power, I’ve got devastation on the shore, I’ve got floods in the northern part of my state. If you think right now I give a damn about presidential politics then you don’t know me.” Ouch! ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-hurricane-sandy-actually-sway-the-election/638867/91 "2012-10-30T15:21:07Z")
Time to see who is the better chess player - Romney or Obama. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-hurricane-sandy-actually-sway-the-election/638867/92 "2012-10-30T15:22:52Z")
> [@Kozmik](#): > > Time to see who is the better chess player - Romney or Obama. I’m surprised to [hear you say that](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=670134). Isn’t it the Illuminati that’s really deciding who our president will be? ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-hurricane-sandy-actually-sway-the-election/638867/93 "2012-10-30T15:26:50Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > I’m surprised to [hear you say that](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=670134). Isn’t it the Illuminati that’s really deciding who our president will be? What about the hurricane? 😉 I’m sure that Romney and Obama have _some_ influence on who will win the 2012 election. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-hurricane-sandy-actually-sway-the-election/638867/94 "2012-10-30T15:27:41Z")
> [@Kozmik](#): > > Time to see who is the better chess player - Romney or Obama. > [@Bob Ducca](#): > > I’m surprised to [hear you say that](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=670134). Isn’t it the Illuminati that’s really deciding who our president will be? Let’s keep that discussion in the MPSIMS thread, please. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-hurricane-sandy-actually-sway-the-election/638867/95 "2012-10-30T15:30:26Z")
Just read that power might not be back on in Manhattan for a week. Is it possible to run an election with no power? How many people have to be without power before a delay is discussed? ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-hurricane-sandy-actually-sway-the-election/638867/96 "2012-10-30T15:32:24Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Let’s keep that discussion in the MPSIMS thread, please. Will do. All in good fun… Apologies to Kozmik if he took offense, though he seemed to take it in the spirit it was intended. ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-hurricane-sandy-actually-sway-the-election/638867/97 "2012-10-30T15:32:37Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > Is it possible to run an election with no power? Of course it’s possible. They had elections without power in the 1800s. > [@Bob Ducca](#): > > Will do. All in good fun… Apologies to Kozmik if he took offense, though he seemed to take it in the spirit it was intended. Check, mate! ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-hurricane-sandy-actually-sway-the-election/638867/98 "2012-10-30T15:34:01Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > Just read that power might not be back on in Manhattan for a week. I’m seeing estimates of three or four days for most places, and that’s lower Manhattan - not to say that doesn’t count, but it’s not the entirety of Manhattan. The power will be back on in most places before next Tuesday. I don’t know what’s going to happen in some rural areas, and I can imagine that’ll take longer to fix than highly populated areas in New York City. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-hurricane-sandy-actually-sway-the-election/638867/99 "2012-10-30T15:36:53Z")
> [@Kozmik](#): > > Of course it’s possible. They had elections without power in the 1800s. Touche. I of course meant a modern election (with e-voting machines, etc). I guess we’ll see how fast the cleanup goes - this is an interesting case where the better the government works to clean up (with the utility companies) the better it is for the incumbents. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-hurricane-sandy-actually-sway-the-election/638867/100 "2012-10-30T15:41:07Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I’m seeing estimates of three or four days for most places, and that’s lower Manhattan - not to say that doesn’t count, but it’s not the entirety of Manhattan. The power will be back on in most places before next Tuesday. I don’t know what’s going to happen in some rural areas, and I can imagine that’ll take longer to fix than highly populated areas in New York City. Here’s a nightmare scenario- power still out in NYC on Tuesday, subway still shut down, city residents can’t get to polls, Romney wins by carrying (drum roll) New York! More likely- urban areas get repowered before rural areas, urban voters cast ballots with few problems, Obama wins easily. Think Virginia- DC suburbs back online by weekend, western part of state takes a week. Obama wins Virginia easily. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-hurricane-sandy-actually-sway-the-election/638867.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-hurricane-sandy-actually-sway-the-election/638867.md?page=6)