# 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:** 6
**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, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-hurricane-sandy-actually-sway-the-election/638867/101 "2012-10-30T15:42:42Z")
(This is one of the many reasons we need to go back to paper balloting in all states.) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-hurricane-sandy-actually-sway-the-election/638867/102 "2012-10-30T15:47:19Z")
> [@Kozmik](#): > > 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) . . . But, of course, Romney is not obliged to assist. Obama is, because he’s president. ---
**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, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-hurricane-sandy-actually-sway-the-election/638867/103 "2012-10-30T15:49:45Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > 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! Har har, but we don’t take the subway to go to the polls. ---
**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, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-hurricane-sandy-actually-sway-the-election/638867/104 "2012-10-30T16:12:32Z")
Heh. Romney cancelled all of his campaign events because of Sandy. Instead he’s holding a [“storm relief event”](http://times247.com/articles/romney-switches-campaign-event-to-storm-relief-effort). In Ohio. At the same spot he already had an event planned. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-hurricane-sandy-actually-sway-the-election/638867/105 "2012-10-30T16:13:36Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally Posted by **Lamar Mundane** > It is The Storm of the Century. > [@](#): > > Originally Posted by **Ethilrist** > It’s starting to look like it might be The Storm of the **Previous Century** , too. Thankfully, it is looking more like it will be the Storm of the Year, since it is looking to be in the same ballpark as Hurricane Irene in 2011. (56 deaths, over $15 Billion in damage) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-hurricane-sandy-actually-sway-the-election/638867/106 "2012-10-30T16:22:10Z")
Just out of curiosity, does NYC smell any better now, after its bath? ---
**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, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-hurricane-sandy-actually-sway-the-election/638867/107 "2012-10-30T16:24:16Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Har har, but we don’t take the subway to go to the polls. You don’t? This is probably the stupidest question in the history of stupid, but how do New Yorkers get to the polls? ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-hurricane-sandy-actually-sway-the-election/638867/108 "2012-10-30T16:25:47Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > You don’t? This is probably the stupidest question in the history of stupid, but how do New Yorkers get to the polls? I would guess walk for the most part. I’m sure they have polling locations everywhere in an area that dense. I live in Chicago and my polling location is one block away from my house. ---
**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, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-hurricane-sandy-actually-sway-the-election/638867/109 "2012-10-30T16:35:01Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > You don’t? This is probably the stupidest question in the history of stupid, but how do New Yorkers get to the polls? Walking. New York City is very pedestrian friendly and most polling places are at schools or other buildings that are going to be convenient to most people in the area. Our polling place is about two blocks away. ---
**Author:** ![Club\_33](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@Club\_33](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Club_33)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-hurricane-sandy-actually-sway-the-election/638867/110 "2012-10-30T17:43:05Z")
So, Michael “Brownie” Brown is stating that he thinks the Obama administration[responded too quickl](http://blogs.westword.com/latestword/2012/10/michael_brown_fema_obama_hurricane_sandy.php)y to the hurricane. That’s rich. ---
**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, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-hurricane-sandy-actually-sway-the-election/638867/111 "2012-10-30T17:44:54Z")
[This photo](https://twitter.com/jonkarl/status/263303957823246336) shows you everything you need to know about Romney’s Totally Not a Campaign Rally “Storm Relief” Event. ---
**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, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-hurricane-sandy-actually-sway-the-election/638867/112 "2012-10-30T17:45:05Z")
‘At this rate we won’t even get to see any displaced New Jerseyans huddled together in the filth of the Giants football stadium,’ Brown said. ‘Where’s the fun in that?’ ---
**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, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-hurricane-sandy-actually-sway-the-election/638867/113 "2012-10-30T17:55:07Z")
Could Obama’s hands-on response, coupled with the praise from people on the right (Christie) help push him over the top in Florida and North Carolina (two states that deal with hurricanes on the reg)? I think so, especially when coupled with Romney’s “Eff FEMA” stance. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-hurricane-sandy-actually-sway-the-election/638867/114 "2012-10-30T18:06:08Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > You don’t? This is probably the stupidest question in the history of stupid, but how do New Yorkers get to the polls? > [@Airbeck](#): > > I would guess walk for the most part. I’m sure they have polling locations everywhere in an area that dense. I live in Chicago and my polling location is one block away from my house. > [@Marley23](#): > > Walking. New York City is very pedestrian friendly and most polling places are at schools or other buildings that are going to be convenient to most people in the area. Our polling place is about two blocks away. I don’t think I’ve ever lived in an area where the polling location wasn’t within walking distance, whether than was a big city or a suburb. Granted, “walking distance” for me is longer than for some other folks, but in something so densely populated as New York City I’d imagine many folks travel a longer distance vertically to get out of their high rise apartment than horizontally along the sidewalk to reach their polling place. ---
**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, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-hurricane-sandy-actually-sway-the-election/638867/115 "2012-10-30T18:07:17Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Walking. New York City is very pedestrian friendly and most polling places are at schools or other buildings that are going to be convenient to most people in the area. Our polling place is about two blocks away. > [@Airbeck](#): > > I would guess walk for the most part. I’m sure they have polling locations everywhere in an area that dense. I live in Chicago and my polling location is one block away from my house. Oh. Duh. Of course. > [@Bob Ducca](#): > > [This photo](https://twitter.com/jonkarl/status/263303957823246336) shows you everything you need to know about Romney’s Totally Not a Campaign Rally “Storm Relief” Event. That looks really douchey. ---
**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, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-hurricane-sandy-actually-sway-the-election/638867/116 "2012-10-30T18:15:04Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > That looks really douchey. It’s disgraceful, but I think it’s long been established that Romney doesn’t care about that. We’ll see if his views on FEMA remain an issue as the immediate crisis recedes from news coverage because that’s unlikely to help him. ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-hurricane-sandy-actually-sway-the-election/638867/117 "2012-10-30T18:18:15Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > It’s disgraceful, but I think it’s long been established that Romney doesn’t care about that. We’ll see if his views on FEMA remain an issue as the immediate crisis recedes from news coverage because that’s unlikely to help him. Whaddya know, he’s gone silent on the issue and is ignoring questions: > **[Mitt Romney refuses to answer whether he'd eliminate FEMA](https://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/10/30/1152601/-Mitt-Romney-refuses-to-answer-whether-he-d-eliminate-FEMA?detail=hide)** > > In the primaries, Romney said federal aid for disasters was "immoral" > > Thank God we finally have a candidate for president who is fully committed to not telling anyone a damn thing about what he ... Color me unsurprised. ---
**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, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-hurricane-sandy-actually-sway-the-election/638867/118 "2012-10-30T18:21:05Z")
Well, he might’ve been at a sacred site for Polish people. What matters is if people keep asking him about his position later this week. ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-hurricane-sandy-actually-sway-the-election/638867/119 "2012-10-30T18:24:16Z")
Maybe they’ll ask him once per day and then plot his responses on a graph over time. That may be the only way that we’ll get some light shed on the exact structure of the Romney opinion probability wave form. Edit: on second thought, once per day is far too few data points. Once per hour maybe would be helpful. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-hurricane-sandy-actually-sway-the-election/638867/120 "2012-10-30T19:22:21Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Thankfully, it is looking more like it will be the Storm of the Year, since it is looking to be in the same ballpark as Hurricane Irene in 2011. (56 deaths, over $15 Billion in damage) It’ll be a long time before the damage calculations are in for Sandy. Anyway, I said the Storm of the Century, not the Aftermath of the Century. The storm surge was three and a half feet higher than ever recorded in New York, and the barometric pressure was 15 or 20 millibars lower than the previous record. For this kind of a storm in this part of the country, Sandy is the worst and will be the one that all future storms will be measured against. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-hurricane-sandy-actually-sway-the-election/638867.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-hurricane-sandy-actually-sway-the-election/638867.md?page=7)