By IANS/RIA Novosti,
Washington: With Hurricane Sandy bearing down on the northeast US, President Barack Obama and his Republican contender Mitt Romney were forced to alter campaign plans Monday ahead of the storm.
Several swing states including North Carolina, Virginia, New Hampshire and Ohio could be impacted by the storm.
Both candidates cancelled campaign appearances in some of the swing states in the path of the Hurricane, sending surrogates to appear instead.
Former president Bill Clinton appeared Monday at a Florida rally on behalf of Obama, who boarded Air Force One ahead of the rally to return to the White House to monitor the storm from Washington.
The move democratic strategists say makes the president look “presidential” and in control a week before the Nov 6 election.
“My message to the governors as well as to the mayors, anything they need we will be there,” said the President after a meeting with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials.
The White House announced Obama’s trip to Wisconsin Tuesday was also called off.
Romney cancelled a Monday afternoon campaign rally in Wisconsin state and all campaign events Tuesday, according to campaign aides.
Early voting was suspended in several states and Washington, DC.