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| Storm Pushes Aside Presidential Politics, Mostly | Storm Pushes Aside Presidential Politics, Mostly |
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| DAYTON, Ohio — Perhaps nothing better encapsulated the tricky calculus of running for president in the midst of a natural disaster than the mixed messages flashing on a giant screen at an event here for Mitt Romney on Tuesday. | DAYTON, Ohio — Perhaps nothing better encapsulated the tricky calculus of running for president in the midst of a natural disaster than the mixed messages flashing on a giant screen at an event here for Mitt Romney on Tuesday. |
| At one moment, the screen contained a public service announcement alerting crowd members about how to text a $10 donation to the American Red Cross on their cellphones. The next, it was home to a glossy campaign video for Mr. Romney that described him as “charismatic” and “authentic.” | At one moment, the screen contained a public service announcement alerting crowd members about how to text a $10 donation to the American Red Cross on their cellphones. The next, it was home to a glossy campaign video for Mr. Romney that described him as “charismatic” and “authentic.” |
| In a corner of a high school gymnasium, attendees lined up to deposit boxes of bottled water and bags of long-grain brown rice for victims of the storm. In another, a woman proudly held up a T-shirt that read “Obama, you’re fired.” | In a corner of a high school gymnasium, attendees lined up to deposit boxes of bottled water and bags of long-grain brown rice for victims of the storm. In another, a woman proudly held up a T-shirt that read “Obama, you’re fired.” |
| The storm that ravaged the East Coast has pushed the presidential campaign into a delicate and ambiguous phase. Suddenly, it was a sideshow, but with a caveat: Americans were still watching, assessing an improvised leadership test to both sides as they sought to navigate the politics of a natural disaster. | The storm that ravaged the East Coast has pushed the presidential campaign into a delicate and ambiguous phase. Suddenly, it was a sideshow, but with a caveat: Americans were still watching, assessing an improvised leadership test to both sides as they sought to navigate the politics of a natural disaster. |
| Mr. Romney, a challenger without the trappings and authority of office to respond to the crisis, attended the gathering, which his campaign called a “storm-relief event,” at the same location where he was previously set to hold a traditional campaign rally. Campaign signs were taken down, attendees were asked to bring canned goods, and a tieless Mr. Romney delivered sober words standing atop a black and silver trunk. | Mr. Romney, a challenger without the trappings and authority of office to respond to the crisis, attended the gathering, which his campaign called a “storm-relief event,” at the same location where he was previously set to hold a traditional campaign rally. Campaign signs were taken down, attendees were asked to bring canned goods, and a tieless Mr. Romney delivered sober words standing atop a black and silver trunk. |
| “A lot of people hurting this morning. They were hurting last night. And the storm goes on,” said Mr. Romney, who personally grabbed bags of food from some members of the crowd and thanked them one by one. | “A lot of people hurting this morning. They were hurting last night. And the storm goes on,” said Mr. Romney, who personally grabbed bags of food from some members of the crowd and thanked them one by one. |
| Yet the existence of the event, at a large venue, meant that Mr. Romney would still appear on television as a candidate after his aides said they would cancel “all events currently scheduled” on Tuesday. A spokesman had told reporters the decision was made out of sensitivity to the storm’s victims. | Yet the existence of the event, at a large venue, meant that Mr. Romney would still appear on television as a candidate after his aides said they would cancel “all events currently scheduled” on Tuesday. A spokesman had told reporters the decision was made out of sensitivity to the storm’s victims. |
| As Mr. Romney accepted the bags of supplies, reporters repeatedly asked him about his comment last year that states, not the Federal Emergency Management Agency, should lead the response to natural disasters. He did not respond. In a debate during the Republican primaries, he vaguely suggested that that emergency management should be pushed to the states, though he did not directly address the future of FEMA, whose work has made it popular in swing states like Florida. | As Mr. Romney accepted the bags of supplies, reporters repeatedly asked him about his comment last year that states, not the Federal Emergency Management Agency, should lead the response to natural disasters. He did not respond. In a debate during the Republican primaries, he vaguely suggested that that emergency management should be pushed to the states, though he did not directly address the future of FEMA, whose work has made it popular in swing states like Florida. |
| President Obama has withdrawn from the campaign trail and will spend his day at the White House where he will conduct briefings and survey the impact of the severe weather, aides said. White House officials said Mr. Obama held a conference call Tuesday with governors and mayors in affected states, urging them to request whatever help they need to address the devastation in their communities. | |
| “The president also made clear that his team is working to identify any additional assistance that could further help the state, local, and private sector efforts to bring power back online faster, and that his team would continue aggressively towards this goal,” a statement from the White House said. | |
| In the statement, Mr. Obama expressed “sadness” for the loss of life during the storm and pledged to provide “all available resources” needed during the recovery. On the call were 13 governors, seven mayors and the top officials of the federal government’s disaster response operations. | |
| Mr. Obama earned repeated praise on Tuesday from an unlikely source: Chris Christie, the Republican governor of New Jersey and one of Mr. Romney’s top surrogates. In several appearances on morning news programs, he called Mr. Obama’s efforts for his state “wonderful,” “excellent” and “outstanding.” | |
| “It’s been very good working with the president,” Mr. Christie said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” program. “He and his administration have been coordinating with us. It’s been wonderful.” | “It’s been very good working with the president,” Mr. Christie said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” program. “He and his administration have been coordinating with us. It’s been wonderful.” |
| The effusive comments about the president from Mr. Christie come after Mr. Christie has spent weeks criticizing the president and his leadership on behalf of Mr. Romney’s campaign. Some Republicans on Tuesday privately expressed frustration that Mr. Christie went as far as he did in thanking Mr. Obama a week before the election. | The effusive comments about the president from Mr. Christie come after Mr. Christie has spent weeks criticizing the president and his leadership on behalf of Mr. Romney’s campaign. Some Republicans on Tuesday privately expressed frustration that Mr. Christie went as far as he did in thanking Mr. Obama a week before the election. |
| The effects of the storm were felt in Ohio, where wind gusts of 60 miles per hour were reported Tuesday morning in the central part of the state, along with scattered power outages and school closings. The banner headline of the Columbus Dispatch said, “A Storm For The Ages.” | The effects of the storm were felt in Ohio, where wind gusts of 60 miles per hour were reported Tuesday morning in the central part of the state, along with scattered power outages and school closings. The banner headline of the Columbus Dispatch said, “A Storm For The Ages.” |
| But even as the candidates altered their campaigning, their dueling television commercials were roaring along on Tuesday. The campaigns and their third-party allies are making a final push on already saturated airwaves with millions of dollars worth of new commercials. A “super PAC” backing Mr. Romney’s campaign began broadcasting a new ad in eight states that features a woman expressing disappointment about Mr. Obama’s first term in office. Another released two ads across the battleground states criticizing Mr. Obama’s handling of the economy. | But even as the candidates altered their campaigning, their dueling television commercials were roaring along on Tuesday. The campaigns and their third-party allies are making a final push on already saturated airwaves with millions of dollars worth of new commercials. A “super PAC” backing Mr. Romney’s campaign began broadcasting a new ad in eight states that features a woman expressing disappointment about Mr. Obama’s first term in office. Another released two ads across the battleground states criticizing Mr. Obama’s handling of the economy. |
| Mr. Obama’s campaign continued to broadcast ads criticizing Mr. Romney’s economic proposals and promoting the president’s plans for a second term. Ads by Mr. Obama’s campaign also urged people to vote early. | Mr. Obama’s campaign continued to broadcast ads criticizing Mr. Romney’s economic proposals and promoting the president’s plans for a second term. Ads by Mr. Obama’s campaign also urged people to vote early. |
| Representatives for the candidates are still planning to hold campaign rallies on Tuesday. Former President Bill Clinton stood in for Mr. Obama in Florida on Monday and planned to press ahead with three stops in Iowa on Tuesday. Mr. Romney’s wife, Ann, will attend a “victory rally” in Iowa after making a stop at a storm-related event in Wisconsin. | Representatives for the candidates are still planning to hold campaign rallies on Tuesday. Former President Bill Clinton stood in for Mr. Obama in Florida on Monday and planned to press ahead with three stops in Iowa on Tuesday. Mr. Romney’s wife, Ann, will attend a “victory rally” in Iowa after making a stop at a storm-related event in Wisconsin. |
| With a razor-close election just seven days away, each camp confronted the same quandary: whether pressing ahead in campaigning would earn them the votes they needed to win or whether it would be seen as crass, unpresidential behavior at a time of power failures, flooding and mass evacuations. | With a razor-close election just seven days away, each camp confronted the same quandary: whether pressing ahead in campaigning would earn them the votes they needed to win or whether it would be seen as crass, unpresidential behavior at a time of power failures, flooding and mass evacuations. |
| Mr. Obama, shouldering the responsibilities of a sitting president, acted first, abandoning a planned Florida rally to fly back to the White House on Monday morning. | Mr. Obama, shouldering the responsibilities of a sitting president, acted first, abandoning a planned Florida rally to fly back to the White House on Monday morning. |
| Just before noon, Mr. Romney’s campaign announced that it, too, had decided to cancel the candidate’s scheduled events, including one in Wisconsin on Monday night and his entire schedule on Tuesday, “out of sensitivity for the millions of Americans in the path of Hurricane Sandy.” | Just before noon, Mr. Romney’s campaign announced that it, too, had decided to cancel the candidate’s scheduled events, including one in Wisconsin on Monday night and his entire schedule on Tuesday, “out of sensitivity for the millions of Americans in the path of Hurricane Sandy.” |
| By Monday night, the Romney campaign announced the new storm-relief event in Dayton. Randy Owen, the singer, performed. | By Monday night, the Romney campaign announced the new storm-relief event in Dayton. Randy Owen, the singer, performed. |
| Hundreds of people donated food. Devante Williams, 22, said he had driven three hours from Indiana after hearing about how he could contribute to the relief effort. He wanted to make a $100 cash donation. “It’s just the right thing to do,” he said. | Hundreds of people donated food. Devante Williams, 22, said he had driven three hours from Indiana after hearing about how he could contribute to the relief effort. He wanted to make a $100 cash donation. “It’s just the right thing to do,” he said. |
| Mr. Romney recalled a time he was in high school when classmates discovered a football field littered with trash. | Mr. Romney recalled a time he was in high school when classmates discovered a football field littered with trash. |
| “And the person who responsible for organizing the effort said, just line up along the yardlines. You go between the goal line and the 10 yard line. And the next person, between 10 and 20, and then just walk through and do your lane. And if everybody cleans their line, why, we’ll be able to get the job done. And so today, we are cleaning one lane, if you will,” he said. | “And the person who responsible for organizing the effort said, just line up along the yardlines. You go between the goal line and the 10 yard line. And the next person, between 10 and 20, and then just walk through and do your lane. And if everybody cleans their line, why, we’ll be able to get the job done. And so today, we are cleaning one lane, if you will,” he said. |
| But he did not talk politics. | But he did not talk politics. |
| Top aides to Mr. Romney said they feared the possibility of a split-screen moment that showed Mr. Romney attacking the president next to images of flooded homes. They said canceling traditional campaign events allowed Mr. Romney to be part of the storm story, not apart from it. Both campaigns also halted fund-raising across the East Coast in favor of an appeal to donors for Red Cross contributions. | Top aides to Mr. Romney said they feared the possibility of a split-screen moment that showed Mr. Romney attacking the president next to images of flooded homes. They said canceling traditional campaign events allowed Mr. Romney to be part of the storm story, not apart from it. Both campaigns also halted fund-raising across the East Coast in favor of an appeal to donors for Red Cross contributions. |
Michael Barbaro reported from Dayton, Ohio, and Michael D. Shear from Washington. Peter Baker contributed reporting from Washington, and Ashley Parker from Boston. | Michael Barbaro reported from Dayton, Ohio, and Michael D. Shear from Washington. Peter Baker contributed reporting from Washington, and Ashley Parker from Boston. |