It’s for sure this year is going to be a tight election race in the US. President Obama is facing off against Republican Former Governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney on Tuesday. With a sluggish economic recovery and high unemployment, President Obama is defending his record while trying to tell the American people to give him time to implement his promises. Governor Romney, meanwhile, is arguing that President Obama’s wrongheaded economic policies are the main reason for America’s slow economic recovery, and trying to convince America that his own success in the private sector is a clear example that he has experience and ability to bring back the American economy and to reduce the unemployment.
President Obama had difficulty in explaining why a slow economic recovery continued, so Governor Romney had closed the gap between Obama and him in public poles. However, Hurricane Sandy forced Americans to face the devastating effects of a hurricane-level storm. It gave a chance for President Obama to show his leadership in action in photo opportunities. Despite President Obama’s weak performance in the debates, one of my political science professor taught, “Voters are stupid because voters mostly look for the last events that can stay in memory” So it depends on how many people are being affected by the storm and how quickly the government responds to their needs.
I am sure President Obama and his team know about this phenomenon well, that it depends on a quick rescue and relief effort to show Americans his leadership. But if the affected people‘s needs are not met and rescue and relief efforts are slow, then it may give President Obama a metaphorical headache, and Romney will benefit if President Obama fails to deliver sufficient relief. Obama will be blamed for the lack of food and security because Governor Romney is not a president. President Obama’s teams will do their utmost to deal with relief efforts, and because all America’s eye will be on the two candidates’ leadership, the elections may come down to how President Obama helps to relieve the millions of people in both New York and New Jersey who lack electricity, heat, and even food. Also, the New York subway is very important for millions of people who commute to work, and it is still closed. Importantly, several of the mainstream television networks have not reported on the looting, lack of security, rummaging in trash cans for food, or any details that show that President Obama is not handling the disaster in an acceptable or “Presidential” way.
These kinds of events bring people together. Sandy Hurricane is a big advantage for President Obama because during Hurricanes Katrina of New Orleans in 2005, President Bush was blamed for relief agencies’ slow response to victims, and this time President Obama has learned the lessons to make sure television shows his relief agencies responding within 15 to 30 minutes.
Of course, the role of the media is important as well. For most viewers, the elections depend on how the media shapes the post- Sandy storm. The quick response of relief agencies, like FEMA, would be very important for President Obama because ideological differences between Democrats and Republican contrast the role of the federal government. Most Republicans, like Governor Romney, argue that the federal government should work with the state and local governments, while Democrats, like President Obama, argue that the federal government can do good things to help the disadvantaged by giving money.
Also, another recent variable is Republican Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey who delivered a passionate speech against the Democrats and the President at the Republican Convention, but this past week praised President Obama on several TV channels telling how incredibly supportive and helpful to the swing-state the President has been, bragging that it has been wonderful working with the President. President Obama and his team could not have a better last photo op and image for his reelection campaign than the well-liked governor touting Obama’s praises. Because of the sensitivity of the lost lives and destroyed homes, the situation killed Romney and his team’s ability to criticize Obama’s leadership and the role of the federal government.
Since millions of people lost their home and have no water, no electric city, and no housing, they do not have any other resources to rely on but the federal government or the state or local government to survive. The President can easily issue money to key states. And, if Governor Chris Christie praised the President because he wanted to get help from the federal government to help his state, then he may have helped turn the elections. The timing and ferocity of Sandy is a boost for President Obama.
In summary, media do not criticize FEMA much because FEMA as well as the President learned lessons from the past. This time its response was quick and better planned. Also, President Obama kept mayors and governors happy by giving federal aid to get a return as well as to get praise. It is true that President Obama has been confronted with many issues, including the global economy, the rise of China, Syria’s violence, Iran’s nuclear program, and the domestic economy, but the storm has pushed to the background the most damaging issue for him-- his failure to respond to the terrorists in Libya, leading to the US ambassador’s death in Benghazi. Finally, Governor Chris who a few months ago delivered a passionate anti Obama speech and fired up so many Republicans to vote for Romney’s leadership, now is cheering and giving so much credit to President Obama that it will definitely help President Obama in his reelection bid.
Dr. Aland Mizell is with the University of Mindanao School of Social Science, President of the MCI and a regular contributor to The Kurdistan Tribune, Kurdishaspect.com, Mindanao Times and Kurdish Media.You may email the author at:aland_mizell2@hotmail.com.
