# 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:** 7\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-hurricane-sandy-actually-sway-the-election/638867/141 "2012-10-30T23:07:29Z")
> [@Club\_33](#): > > 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. Angling for his old job if Romney wins, obviously. He could also help with the dancing horses. ---
**Author:** ![Enkel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df705f/32.png) [@Enkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enkel)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2012, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-hurricane-sandy-actually-sway-the-election/638867/142 "2012-10-30T23:10:05Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > At least two weeks of early voting in all states would be a more effective solution (distribution of bulk papers can be just **as problematic as restoring electricity** ). Given that they can take generators to the polling sites, I’m not sure restoring electricity is a big problem. Fuel might not be cheap, but lighting and voting machines will not draw a huge amount of electricity so generators will mostly be at only a tad above idle speeds. Letting the residents know that polling is open could be a problem, but they can post flyers to let them know about it. ---
**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, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-hurricane-sandy-actually-sway-the-election/638867/143 "2012-10-30T23:32:28Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > 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. > [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I think his strategy should be OH/WI +1. That is, nail down OH and WI, which he leads in, and 1 more state between IA, NV, CO, VA, and FL. I think he’s farthest ahead in NV, but he’s likely to get a few more too. Ok. So we got Florida and Ohio. But any ‘November’ strategy should account for Hurricane Sandy. Which is why I would suggest something a bit unorthodox - the President should campaign in Colorado, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and California. The President will be in New Jersey tomorrow. From there, in November, the President should campaign in Ohio, then in Florida, and then in Colorado, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and California. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2012, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-hurricane-sandy-actually-sway-the-election/638867/144 "2012-10-31T00:43:26Z")
> [@Club\_33](#): > > 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. Well, if you’re getting criticized by Brownie, then you know you must be doing something right. I’d chalk this up as a positive for Obama. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2012, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-hurricane-sandy-actually-sway-the-election/638867/145 "2012-10-31T01:00:24Z")
> [@Club\_33](#): > > 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. I have to wonder, who the hell takes this guy seriously? He apparently has a radio show these days and tried starting a disaster management firm. But, I can’t even really imagine conservatives being supporters of his, seeing as how they essentially made him the fall guy for all the Bush administration’s failings during Katrina. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2012, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-hurricane-sandy-actually-sway-the-election/638867/146 "2012-10-31T02:20:39Z")
> [@Airbeck](#): > > Also, Gallup is the polling house most out of line with the rest of the polling universe right now, so are you really banking on that one being the accurate one and the rest all wrong? I’m not banking on anything. I’m an Obama supporter. Other than the PPP numbers, my google-fu is not finding polls of early voting. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2012, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-hurricane-sandy-actually-sway-the-election/638867/147 "2012-10-31T22:37:56Z")
> [@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! > . I’ll take your hypothetical and reverse it… Most New York City residents live within walking distance of their polling place, I’ve certainly never had a polling place I couldn’t easily walk to. Now there might be an issue with power at the polling places, but we all use paper ballot voting and it’s all very low tech, a little old lady looks you up in big giant book, you sign under your name and a preprinted picture of your signature, and they give you a ballot and a number. So, say all the NYC residents vote but no one upstate can get to the polls because of a massive gas shortage…which seems to be the latest developing story…then Obama carries New York which changes …oh, absolutely nothing…nevermind [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-hurricane-sandy-actually-sway-the-election/638867.md?page=7)