I have no doubt that Mitt Romney is genuinely concerned about the damage caused to property and people’s lives as a result of hurricane Isaac’s destructive path through Louisiana. I also have no doubt that he knows that traveling to the storm ravaged state in the immediate aftermath of the convention is very good politics.
In fact, it’s so good that he has forced president Obama to schedule a visit to the state on Monday. The Obama campaign announced they were cancelling an event in Cleveland on Monday so that the president can also tour the disaster area.
President Barack Obama was today forced to announce he will fly to storm-hit Louisiana on Monday – hours after Mitt Romney beat him to the punch by deciding to head there this afternoon.
After it emerged that Obama was still taking time to fit in a campaign stop in Cleveland, Ohio before checking out how clean-up operations are proceeding in the Bayou state, the Obama campaign abruptly cancelled that event.‘In light of the President’s travel to Louisiana to meet with local officials and view ongoing response and recovery efforts to Hurricane Isaac, President Obama will no longer travel to Cleveland, Ohio on Monday, September 3,’ the campaign said in a terse statement.
Romney had changed his schedule to head to an affected town outside New Orleans while Obama, who has yet to visit the Tropical Storm Isaac zone, headed off to Texas to campaign.
[...]
Romney’s last-minute trip to New Orleans came as his wife Ann told CNN that swing women voters in particular had told her that ‘it’s time for the grown-up to come, the man that’s going to take this very seriously and the future of our children very, very seriously’.
He opted out of a joint campaign appearance in Richmond, Virginia with Paul Ryan, his vice-presidential running mate, to head to Louisiana
Even if Romney had no political intent whatsoever in visiting Louisiana — a doubtful proposition — the press and the Obama campaign would frame the visit that way anyway. At this point, there is no such thing as an unscripted moment; every act, every word uttered by both candidates will be framed by its political value and given political context.
Romney will show the country the difference between hip boots and hipster boots.
Obama’s visit wil be a big help from an agricultural standpoint as I’m sure the bulls**t he slings will help fertilize the fields.
Q: What’s the difference between a 55 gallon drum of fertilizer and Precedent Obama?
A: The drum.
Ba-da-boom.
LGoPs has left the building…
Who could be surprised that Obama is going second? Obama thinks he is leading from behind.
The brilliance of Clint Eastwood’s open mockery of Obama is already apparent. Portraying the President not as an empty suit but as an empty chair has vertably panicked the Dems. Obama has had to cancel a campaign event in a swing state to show up in a red state, not because he cares much for a hurricane which proved such a damp squib and had the gall not to visit a Katrina on Romney’s head. He’s belatedly voting ‘present’ because he’s realised it’s bad optics.
This also shows up another glaring weakness. His campaign will gradually dissolve into a ‘whack-a-mole’ defense. All Romney has to do is to do a lightning campaign stop in Cleveland. Obama will now be running hither and thither trying to put out fires that threaten to consume his chances of re-election. And eat up more of his money in the process.
I doubt he’s using “his” money on this one. That’s the myth of the supposed money advantage R&R have over Barry. Barry can use his position as POTUS to make campaign stops under the guise of fulfilling his official duties.
Therefore we get to pay for it and he can conserve his dwindling stash. It’s sort of like having your union dues used for political campaigns you disagree with or your tax money used to support policies in conflict with your religeous beliefs. This is what liberals define as “fairness.”
He can also stiff the local taxpayers. He hasn’t paid up his 2008 campaign bills for extra security. He is not paying 2012′s bills either.
I should think (hope) it’s not just politics (although politically speaking it was a good move). As president, he will have to handle weather-related disasters. This is a good opportunity to see in person what goes on and talk to Gov. Jindal and local authorities about what kind of response they need from the feds. It’s a learning opportunity. And also good politics.
Campaign in Texas, W’s home state?
¿Qué? For the illegals’ votes?
Like the Kennedys.
O getting sloppy.
If he was at Ft Bliss he is really looking for New Mexico votes