Obama gets first-hand look at storm devastation
By | Associated Press – 58 mins ago- Enlarge PhotoAssociated Press/Doug Mills, Pool - Marine One, carrying President Barack Obama and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, take an aerial tour of the Atlantic Coast in New Jersey in areas damaged by superstorm Sandy,
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BRIGANTINE, N.J. (AP) — President Barack Obama
inspected the devastation from Sandy on Wednesday, flying high over
flooded neighborhoods, sand-strewn streets and a burning fire that
charred homes along the New Jersey coastline.
With Election Day less than a week away, Obama's visit to view the
aftermath of the rare autumn storm was layered with political
implications. The president's tour guide was New Jersey Gov. Chris
Christie, a Republican and top supporter of GOP presidential nominee
Mitt Romney who joined Obama on a Marine One helicopter ride over the
region.To the chagrin of some Republicans, Christie has lavished praise on Obama for his efforts in helping states deal with the storm.
Even though politics infuse every moment in the final week before Election Day, the White House sought to focus attention on the storm, an event that has given Obama an opportunity to project presidential leadership in the final days of the tightly contested White House race.
White House spokesman Jay Carney
said there were no political motivations behind Obama's decision to join
his supporter's rival Wednesday.
"This is not a time for
politics," Carney said. "The president appreciates the efforts of
governors, state and local officials across the various states that were
affected by the storm, regardless of political party."
During the helicopter tour, Obama
and Christie saw a carnival and a large pier that had been damaged,
along with flattened houses and fragments of wood scattered throughout
neighborhoods. Parts of the New Jersey shore's famed boardwalk was
missing in sections and in one area, a fire was still burning and
appeared to have taken out about eight homes.
Photos: New Jersey devastated
Photo By Pablo Martinez Monsivais 2 hrs 6 mins ago
President Barack Obama is greeted by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie upon his arrival at Atlantic City International Airport, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2012, in Atlantic City, NJ. Obama traveled to region to... more
As Obama and Christie flew over
Point Pleasant Beach, sand and water could be seen covering several
blocks of the community. But the president got a reminder of next week's
election: someone had written "ROMNEY" in large letters in the sand at
the north end of the beach.
Wednesday marked Obama's third
straight day off the campaign trail. He canceled rallies across four
battleground states and retreated to the White House to oversee the
government's storm response. Obama stopped by FEMA headquarters in
Washington before heading to New Jersey.
Obama planned to return to the
campaign trail Thursday, with stops planned in Green Bay, Wis., Las
Vegas and Boulder, Colo. He planned to be on the road campaigning every
day through the Nov. 6 election.
